Cyanotypes & Botanical Toning: Growing, Harvesting, Making

Bookings being taken directly with Sustainable Darkroom.

Come and immerse yourself in historic and low-toxic methods of pigment extraction and image making. You will learn how to extract vibrant colours from plants, and gain a foundation in how to select and identify plants that are suitable for making inks and toners. Starting with the cyanotype process, you will learn the chemical relationships between iron chemistries and plant tannins, you will make and experiment with several toners picked directly from the garden as well as those for ink making. 

We will explore how to plant, grow, care for, harvest, and store plants in a sustainable and reciprocal way. You will leave with ideas how to choose your own pigment plants for your future projects that can be grown in anything from a small window box to a larger garden, as well as examples of what can be foraged in the wild.

Please note: we will not be covering the basics of making and exposing a cyanotype. Please bring pre-made cyanotypes that you wish to tone along to the session.

Experience level: Experience of making cyanotypes recommended.

When: Wednesday 3rd September, 10.00am-1.00pm.

Where: Bristol Folk House Darkroom, 40a Park St, Bristol BS1 5JG.

Teachers: Anna Lukala