REGISTRATION OPENS TOMORROW - FOR INTRO TO CYANOTYPES MADE ON PAPER & FABRIC...

Intro to Cyanotypes Made on Paper and Fabric (aka The Blues and the Not So Blues) – with Kimberly Schneider & Anthony Maddaloni, of East Side Silver Print

Format: Hybrid Class – open to both in-person and Zoom students

Location(s):  In person at East Side Silver Print in Austin, TX and online via Zoom (in-person in NYC is also available upon request for 1 person)

Duration: 2.5 hours/session – take both or opt to take either one.

Date(s): 

Session 1: Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 1-2:30pm EST

Session 2: Sunday, November 24th, 2024, from 1-2:30pm EST

Skill Level: All levels welcome, no prior experience required.

I am thrilled to be offering a brief, but thorough, cyanotypes class with Anthony of East Side Silver Print, just in advance of the holidays. While we are still finalizing everything at the moment, I wanted to give you a heads up that registration opens TOMORROW (I will update this post with links once they're live). This 2-day weekend workshop is one of my lower cost options for students on tight budgets. Please see below for the course description, as well as our bios; additional photos of the processes will be provided via the registration links (and our social media) shortly.

Course Description

This two-day weekend workshop will introduce participants to a variety of methods for making cyanotypes (handmade blue photographs) on paper, as well as on fabric, and will also incorporate both toning and gift-making, in advance of the holidays (along with a little something extra). They will expose their prints in the sun (or via a light box, depending on the weather in Texas), and rinse them in water before hanging or laying them flat to dry.

• Session 1 will begin with an introduction (or refresher) to the cyanotype process. Participants will learn to coat and expose cyanotypes on paper and will get a brief introduction to toning cyanotypes as well. They will learn to make both lens-based and cameraless cyanotypes (photograms) with the aforementioned materials. 

[Participants who do not have large format (4x5 or larger) black-and-white negatives of their own can opt to have digital negatives made for them, as smaller negatives won’t translate well for this process; photograms are made by placing materials directly on top of a photographic surface and exposing it to light (see materials list for more info).] 

• Session 2 was designed primarily as a pre-holiday gift making session, for those who would like to learn to make cyanotypes on materials beyond paper. Focusing on different fabrics, they can choose to make their prints on materials that can also function as accessories or items of clothing, if they wish. (Those who would prefer to focus on traditional cyanotypes are welcome to continue printing on paper rather than fabric during this session and will be instructed accordingly). 

In addition to the fabric making portion of the class, attendees will have the option to make their first mixed-process cyanotype (a cyano-lumen), which is another type of sun print, made by made by coating silver gelatin (darkroom) paper with cyanotype chemistry. 

Materials List

For Zoom Students 

Chemistry & DIY Print at Home Suggestions

• Cyanotype chemistry

• Nitrile or latex gloves (kitchen gloves are fine as well, they just might not fit as well)

• 1 small bowl and foam brush for mixing the chemistry

• 1 small graduate or container for measuring out the cyanotype solution (you won’t need to use much)

• 1 foam brush/something to coat the chemistry with

• Plexiglass or glass that’s at least as big as your paper. Make sure it is clear (not frosted, be careful with Amazon); if you have a contact printer frame with glass that’s even better, but not required. 

o Optional: clothespins or clips 

• For rinsing the prints, one tray larger than your paper will suffice. Just remember you want room for the print to be able to move around in the water as your rinsing. (OR you can make do with a pyrex tray, just make sure it’s bigger than your paper and at least a couple inches deep). 

• For drying your prints, you can hang them with clothespins or lay them flat on a window screen (the instructors can advise you based on your particular space) 

For Everyone 

• Watercolor Paper

o Suggestions: 8x10 Hahnemühle - Platinum Rag is fantastic for these processes, but other brands and types of watercolor paper are ok. (In-person students can check with Anthony, as he may be willing to provide the paper for a small materials fee). The size is up to you, 8x10 is just a recommendation.

• Photogram materials

Are entirely up to you – look for materials at home, in your kitchen, your backyard, or even your local grocery store. Some suggestions are flowers, plants, lace, and produce, but you are welcome to get more creative with your materials, if you feel inclined. (It’s ok if some of them are too thick for the plexi/glass, we have some wiggle room with the cameraless prints.)

• Negatives/Digital negatives

Those taking the course remotely are encouraged to use large format negatives for their lens-based prints, if they have them; they can also opt to have digital negatives made for them at their local lab OR can simply focus on making cameraless cyanotypes (with materials such as flowers and lace).

•  
  • Zoom participants are welcome to reach out to Kimberly, if they need recommendations of places to have the digital negatives made for them; Those taking the class in-person can reach out to Anthony if they’d like to have him make digital negatives for them. 

• Fabric

Go to the fabric store and look for something white (and inexpensive) that responds well to dyes and try to avoid textures that might distract from your images. Muslin works well, cotton and some types of lace are also great options. 

• Optional

Silver gelatin (black-and-white/darkroom) paper for the cyano-lumens. 

o Expired paper is fine for this process, so if you have old paper around, you can avoid purchasing new paper for this option. Different papers will turn different colors, fiber papers work best, but RC papers will also work well for this process. 

BIOS

Kimberly Schneider is a visual artist, educator, and printer, who has been dedicated to the art of the handmade print for over two decades. Specializing in true infrared film, spiritual landscapes, and experimental photograms, she holds a BFA in photography (and minor in philosophy) from Colorado State University, exhibits her work regularly, and has received quite a few awards over the past several years. 

Based in New York City, Kimberly enjoys working with private and Zoom students, as well as teaching classes and collaborating with other artists, educators, and organizations in a variety of capacities (she is thrilled to collaborate with Anthony to offer this hybrid version of the aforementioned class); Schneider is also a repeat contributor to The Darkroom Cookbook (and was happy to supply an extra special contribution for the 5th edition, which is now available by pre-order). 

Her work has been in notable exhibitions at Scott Nichols Gallery, AIPAD (Association of International Photography Art Dealers), Photo Forward Los Angeles, The Camera Obscura Gallery, The Photographer’s Eye Collective, San Diego Art Institute, ZIA Gallery, and Foto Nostrum (Barcelona, Spain), as well as virtually at The Louvre; she is honored to have work in the collection of Susan Herzig & Paul Hertzmann, San Francisco, and to have Veritas Editions as the future publisher of EQUIVALENCE, her upcoming monograph.

[Recent Awards include Honorary Spider Fellow (Nominee), 18th Black and White Spider Awards; Honorable Mention, LA Photo Curator, Surrealism competition; Honorable Mention, 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards; Runner Up (to the Series Winner), 17th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards; 3rd Place, 16th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards; Honorable Mention (16th) Pollux Awards; Honorary Spider Fellow (Nominee); 16th Black and White Spider Awards.]

Anthony Maddaloni and Eastside Silver Prints

About the Eastside Silver Prints Darkroom:https://www.eastsidesilverprints.com

Since Anthony Maddaloni opened the darkroom in 2012, Eastside Silver Prints has become a resource and community space for students, artists, and photographers in Austin. 

The darkroom was created for anyone who is interested in film photography regardless of skill level. From beginner to advanced, all are welcome to utilize this space and be part of the community. 

About Anthony:

Anthony Maddaloni has an art degree from the State University of New York at Purchase College.

He has been teaching art and film photography in Central Texas for over 20 years including adjunct positions at both The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University in San Marcos. 

As well as being a lifelong film photographer, he has worked at the Harry Ransom Center, the Austin Contemporary Museum and the Dougherty Art Center.

He lives with 10 chickens and a goose named Tyson on the east side of Austin.