Monoprinting

The second part of the workshop was monoprinting and stamping fabric. We mixed Procion Dye solutions with an alginate which is a seaweed derivitive (the water used to mix the dye contained urea to help the dyes stay workable for longer). We then smeared the dye compound onto a plastic sheet, made marks in any way we chose, placed the fabric down onto the dye and gently rubbe over the fabric with the back of the hand so that it picked up the pattern and gently pulled it away.

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This is oneof the last pieces I did and I simply drew into the dye medium.

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For the piece above I simply patted onto the dye to make a suction pattern and then made hand prints into it. I don't think the handprints show up very well.

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This piece was made by stamping into the dye medium with a rubber stamp to give the white areas. As with the other pieces this was done 4 times and the fabric was turned each time so that the whole piece became printed.

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Finally, this is the piece of fabric that I wiped my hands on and cleaned the stamps with.

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All of these pieces are shown before I washed the excess dye out which I did this afternoon. There is not, in fact, much difference in the final finish.

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I have been very lax with blogging just lately but I have been keeping up with visiting everyone else. I can't promise to be blogging too mcuh for the next few weeks but hopefully after that I'll get back into my stride, and then the "C" word will come along! Aaaaagh!