ECO PRINT: PLANT MAGIC with Bridget Benton

Saturday, August 19th and
Sunday, August 20th – 10AM to 5PM
Both days – $295 includes all materials (see note below)

Eco Printing is like magic – plants are pressed against paper or silk, wrapped around a copper pipe, exposed to heat, pressure, moisture, and simple things like rust and vinegar and Abracadabra! – the plant material is removed and an impression of the plant is left behind! The natural dyes in the plants themselves have been released and bonded to the paper or silk.

This two-day class is a great introduction to the wonders of eco printing. We will be focusing on both steam and immersion methods using simple materials. Perfect for beginners and those with some nature printing experience!

On the first day, students will start the day by testing various plant materials on paper and silk using steam eco printing methods. On the second day, we will explore immersion methods, again working on paper and silk. We will cover material preparation, bundling, and mordanting for both methods, as well as how to care for the final prints. As a culminating project, students will print their own silk scarves using the different methods.

Bridget Benton has a decade of experience using various methods to make art with botanicals. She served as the educational coordinator for the Nature Printing Society (a national organization dedicated to creating art from nature) from 2016-2018, and is our lead teacher in Nature Printing and Encaustic.