Textiles Natural Dyes and Printmaking Short Course
Course description
Course overview
Students begin by looking at different ways of making prints, how to get colour from dye plants and how to use these colours in a variety of ways; which plants make good dyes and how to create a range of tones using colour modifiers. Students experiment with different forms of printmaking including nature printing through to screen printing with stencils.
During the course, students have the opportunity to print on to both paper and fabric and decide which direction they'd like to take their final piece of work. There will be a focus on using plants that can be cultivated in your own garden or gathered locally.
By the end of the course, students will have created a series of naturally dyed and printed samples on both paper and fabric. Students will go home with a selection of samples and a final outcome piece from the course that will extend their journey into the world of natural dyes. From mark making and design development to natural dyeing, print making and reflection, this course will expand your creative and practical skills with a focus on the natural world and using nature as a guide.
Who this course is for
This 5-week evening course at Central Saint Martins is aimed at anyone interested in exploring sustainable printmaking and textiles in our natural dye workshop. The course would be a great fit for both beginners and those that have some experience of natural dyeing who would like to learn how to translate this into printmaking.
Key information
Topics covered
- Range of sustainable natural dyeing and printing techniques
- Stages of sustainable textile dye and the design process for print
- Visit to onsite campus rooftop natural dye garden (weather permitting)
- Working with plants and trees to create designs using both contemporary and traditional mark making and drawing methods
- Selecting dye plants to colour fabrics as a base for printing
- Natural dyeing process: learning how to prepare, dye and modify a local natural palette of colours on cloth
Learning outcomes
- Have an understanding of natural dyes and how to print with natural pigment
- Be aware of new advancements in the natural dyeing of textiles
- Have gained an insight into the chemistry, mechanisms, and application processes of natural dyes both on textiles and paper
- Understand how natural dyes differ from chemical dyes, and the colours that can be achieved using plants, minerals and insects
- Have a series of samples and a final outcome from experiments made in a variety of ways by naturally dyeing materials using sources found in nature, such as roots, leaves, seeds, spices etc
- Be able to use their new skills to translate designs on to a range of sustainable materials
- Have developed their creative and practical skills from mark making and design development to natural dyeing, printmaking and reflection
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
- Notebook and pen
- Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for being outside on our roof garden and in our studios including dye labs
Tutor
Laura Baker
Laura Baker is an experienced lecturer in the Textiles programme at Central Saint Martins as well as specialist in 2D print and surface pattern for Fashion and Textiles. She has worked as a textile designer in industry and on a freelance basis for fashion and interiors companies internationally. She is also author of the publication 'Laser Cutting for Fashion and Textiles'.Book a course
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