Bristol Light Festival workshop: Phytograms

Join artist Sophie Sherwood for a special Bristol Light Festival workshop in Phytograms!

Using vitamin C tablets and washing soda, you will learn how to make your very own light sensitive chemistry. This can then be applied on to light sensitive materials such as 35mm film to create unique prints. This process was discovered by the artist Karel Doing as a way for people to connect with nature more through photography. In the workshop, we will make relief prints using this process with leaves from the Folk House courtyard, after which we will process these using darkroom fixer to make them translucent.

The chemigram is a painterly process, which can be applied to light-sensitive materials using phytogram chemistry, fixer, and resistant materials such as Vaseline. They can seem like images from another world, and often have a very psychedelic feel. You will learn how to create your own chemigrams in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere at the Folk House, and be asked to build up layers using other techniques, such as lumen printing.

This workshop is in the darkroom, it is very much a standing workshop and in a small space.

Student Testimonial:

This workshop was an amazing experience. I was curious to learn more about the phytogram method and its outcome. Sophie's teaching was enlightening and left me with lots of curiosities which I can't wait to experiment by myself. Really recommend this.

Artist Sophie Sherwood will also be displaying their most recent artwork in the foyer of the Bristol Folk House for this years Bristol Light Festival between the 19th and 28th of February. Admission to see the work is free, please see opening hours below.

Sophie Sherwood (they/them) is a visual artist and creative workshop facilitator based in the South West of England. They explore the self and nature through light-sensitive materials and darkroom techniques. Sophie graduated with an MA in Photography from UWE, Bristol, in 2019. They also hold a BA in Photography from Plymouth University, earned in 2012. Sophie has exhibited nationally, internationally, and online. They have worked with various organizations, including the National Trust, Alzheimer's Society, Bristol Photo Festival, One25, The Photographer's Gallery, and Bristol Folk House.