Please join Erin Patton McFarren for this two-part workshop on printing cyanotypes on fabric and the wet cyanotype process with pigments. Cyanotype is a camera-less photography made out in the sun, rather than in a darkroom. You place objects — such as plants — on top of a piece of photo-treated fabric, and then use the sun to expose the fabric. The result is an image that is an exact outline of the objects in your composition.

In the workshop, we will mix and apply light sensitive chemistry on a 16-inch cotton handkerchief. You will then create a composition on the fabric using flowers and plants we will have on hand, or bring your own objects to use in your composition. After exposing the image you will have a unique fabric cyanotype featuring the brilliant blue color that is the hallmark of the process.

While the chemistry dries on our fabric handkerchiefs, we will explore the “wet cyanotype” process, enhancing our images with powdered watercolor and dyes to introduce flowing colors beyond the traditional Prussian blue.

A wet cyanotype begins like a traditional cyanotype, with objects such as leaves and flowers placed on the sensitized surface. Then, dry pigments are applied, followed by a spray of dyes and soap bubbles. The piece is wrapped in plastic wrap and exposed to sunlight, allowing swirling liquids and blending colors to create dynamic, organic patterns.

Come spend a fun afternoon creating in our beautiful workspace. We will have some objects on hand to experiment with, but feel free to bring your own. Flat items usually work best, and cyanotype can be messy, so precious things like family heirlooms should probably stay at home. All necessary materials will be provided at the workshop. This activity is best suited for artists 7+ years old; minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Erin Patton McFarren’s creative practice is rooted in meditation, driven by constant exploration, process, and experimentation. As an award-winning educator, she teaches Visual Arts to young learners using the Reggio Emilia approach and shares the cyanotype process through workshops at ARTLINK Gallery, ACRES Land Trust, and the Aurora PhotoCenter in Indianapolis.

Her work is collected internationally and has been featured in exhibitions such as Art IN the Abstract at the Indiana State Museum and The National: Best Contemporary Photography at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art (FWMoA). Her cyanotype Saint Mary’s River is included in FWMoA’s collection of contemporary photography. She was recently awarded a fellowship from the Lilly Endowment to take her “traveling studio” to Brazil during the summer of 2024. Recent commercial collaborations include cyanotypes created for unique locations with Chicago’s Johalla Projects and Locol Arts in Orlando, Florida.