Iron Printing in Blue - A Cyanotype Workshop

About

The workshop in cyanotype-printing will mainly focus on acquiring practical skills in the cyanotype-technique. Participants will learn how to produce the cyanotype-solution necessary for using this method and will have the opportunity to carry out experiments with the possibility of using them in the artistic field. The technique can mainly be used to either produce photograms or photographic images with the help of photo negatives. Participants will have the opportunity to try out the different possibilities of the technique and will then be able to focus on their individual approach.

On the first day an introduction into the practical details of the cyanotype-technique will be given. We will look at a variety of examples of cyanotype prints and will learn how to make the solution. In the afternoon first test-prints will be produced. This gives participants a first feeling for the technique and time to prepare for the next day, either through taking photos and copying negatives or through collecting certain material for photograms.

The second day and first part of the third day will be fully dedicated to individually working with the technique. We will start together as a group with an exercise to get more familiar with the use of the technique. Then the focus will lie on the participants’ individual application of the cyanotype technique. There will be space to discuss the individual projects while they are developing throughout the workshop and to receive feedback on an individual level. On the third day we will bring the individual projects to an end and there will be space to look at the group project and at the individual work together. This will give participants the opportunity to review their developed work and to give them an outlook on how they will be able to continue with cyanotype-printing in their own artistic practice.  

Who can take part?

The workshop is intended as a beginners workshop in cyanotype-printing. Basically anyone who has no knowledge of the technique and would like to learn how to work with it is welcome. It can be helpful if you have worked with photography already but this is not a requirement as the technique can also be used without even touching a camera.

What is needed?

If participants want to work with certain photos it would be helpful to copy those in negative onto  transparent  sheets so that they can be used as negatives. Therefore it can also be helpful to bring prints of photos one would like to work with.

To work with photos which are taken during the workshop it is possible to use either a digital camera or a camera embedded in a mobile phone. Therefore it would be helpful to bring either a camera or a phone with a camera, cables and USB-sticks to make sure the photos can be printed immediately. The prints and copies into negatives can  be made in copy shops close by the university. This is a possibility and not a necessity to follow the course. It is also possible to work without photos but to use drawings and/or photograms as the main technique. If participants want to make photograms it would be good if they bring a selection of interesting objects.

Also a selection of strong absorbent paper (as used for watercolour painting) would be helpful.