Begin with foraging plants and creating natural dyes from collected materials, then go on to producing your own one-of-a-kind botanical eco-print via concise step by step presentations and demonstrations in this two-day weekend intensive led by Hilary Baker on April 27-28.

Stemming from centuries-old natural dyeing techniques, botanical contact printing (also known as eco-printing) is a process of activating tannins and pigments found in plants and transferring them, by way of steam, to another natural substrate (fabric, paper, clay or wood.)

Begin this weekend journey into nature and art-making with a morning foraging expedition on the stunning campus of The Marlboro Studio School, focusing on native, ruderal, and invasive plants proven effective with this process. With our collected materials we will move onto a concise step by step presentations and demonstrations to producing your own one-of-a-kind botanical print. On Day Two we will proceed with additional techniques and experimentation with this fascinating collaboration of art, botany, and alchemy.

The workshop will cover all the essential steps and recipes needed to create a permanent botanical contact print on fabric. You will learn some of most effective native plant species of the season, the use of both cellulose and protein fabrics, pre-scouring, mordants and modifiers, bundling techniques, pre-dyeing, and carrier blankets. A list of references and resources, along with a take home kit will also be available.

Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday, April 28, 2024 , 10:00am-4:00pm

May 4 to 5, 2024

May 4, 2024, 2 PM

May 9, 2024, 6 to 8 PM