I am quite selective about the workshops I take these days but when Timeless Textiles presented the opportunity to do a three day deconstructed screen printing workshop in Newcastle with Kerr Grabowski, I signed up straight away.
Apart from a fun one day class with Prints Charming using paper stencils, I am a complete novice at screen printing. Rather than making a mess in the Laundry King’s workshop with unfamiliar materials and techniques, it seemed far preferable to learn from an expert in a studio environment with interaction with other students and their work.
Mentally, I was somewhat underprepared. I knew we would be mark making with thickened Procion dyes on soda ash treated fabrics but, beyond that, I was rather hazy. While others in the class had devoured Kerr’s instructional DVDs or had taken previous classes with Kerr, I confess I hadn’t even looked at her website. On the upside, I had few preconceptions and brought a willingness to experiment.
The workshop was excellent. Kerr generously crammed five days into a three day class but there was still scope to puddle around at your own pace. My goal was just to play and to get my brain engaged in a different creative process but I have found that I want to do more! I have some prints batching in the hot sun. In the meantime, here are a couple of my pieces from the workshop.
I understand Kerr will be back for another workshop in 2014. If you get a chance to join her, go for it!
Lisa says
So beautiful! I have really enjoyed her DVD “Adventures in Surface Design” and hope to some day enjoy a class with her as well. Will you be doing more screen printing on your own?
Brenda says
I’m keen to do some more prints next month but first I have to buy some sodium alginate and another larger size screen – I wore a whole in my new one š
Karen Rips says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the workshop. Those black marks are really great. This process is kind of addicting isn’t it.