Fundamentals of Ecoprinting

Are you one of those people who notices the plants around them throughout the day? Do you want to be? Ecoprinting is a natural dye technique that will completely open your eyes to the flora around you.

Ecoprinting (also known as botanical printing) is a contemporary technique, which adapts the fundamentals of natural dyeing to extract the pigment directly from the plant straight to the fabric - in this way, we're able to capture the shape and subtle nuances of the colors hidden within the leaves. The goal isn't necessarily to create a rainbow of colors, but to use the plant material to directly give patterns, shapes, and textures. 

Botanical printing is my favorite technique within natural dyeing because it captures the essence of the plants most directly. There is also a big element of letting go and surrendering to the materials - a bit like a ceramic piece going into the kiln, bundles steaming in the pot are beyond the point of intervention. Then the magical unbundling, reveals the plant's prints - a direct representation of a plant in a specific place and point in time. 

From foraging or growing the plants to the moment when the prints are revealed, it is a practice that allows you to slow down and deeply connect with the plants you're working with and opens your eyes to a world of potential. Through the window of ecoprinting, you'll become more in tune with the life cycles, seasons, and availability of plants.

In this workshop, we will have a theory and practical session so participants can understand how ecoprinting works and experience different ways to apply them to their projects. In the theory section, we will cover fabric choice and pre-treatment, mordanting options, plants that print, and how to sustainably work with your local flora. Then we'll move on to a practical stage where students will apply the theory to four projects - an herbarium on a fabric panel, tote bag, tshirt, and even a paper poster (each with their own approach). While waiting for the bundles to steam I'll quickly cover the tatakizome method of hammering the plants. 

Each participant will take home their creations (valued at €70+), extra plants from the workshop to use at home, an in-depth digital booklet (valued at €20) to continue ecoprinting on your own, and an unforgettable experience! 

All materials are included - even a light vegetarian lunch (please inform me of any dietary restrictions in the registration form)!

FAQ:

How do I get there? 

The workshop will be held at Tinctorium Studio in Abóboda, São Domingos de Rana (close to Carcavelos!). By public transport you can take the train from Lisbon to Carcavelos (line to Cascais from Cais do Sodré), I'll try to coordinate a pickup from the station to the studio or you can do the last bit by bus or uber. 

What language will the workshop be taught in? 

The workshop will be taught in English and Portuguese and the booklet is available in both languages.

What's for lunch? 

Lunch will be vegetarian build-your-own hippie bowls - all the ingredients laid out, you just need to pick what you like! If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, please let me know ahead of time so I can plan accordingly. 

Do I need to bring anything?

All materials are included in the enrollment price, but it's recommended to bring a pen and something to write on, appropriate clothing that can get dirty, and a hat or sunscreen since we will be outside. 

What if I have to cancel? 

Ticket purchases are fully refundable up to a week before the start of the workshop, 50% reimbursement within the week, and no reimbursement within 48 hours. 

There is an enormous amount of preparation and planning that goes into each workshop so, unfortunately, I'm unable to fulfill refunds in the days leading up. If you can't make it last minute, I recommend finding someone who would love to spend the day creating color from plants to take your place. Thank you for your understanding.