Toned Botanical Cyanotypes

Inspired by the workshop garden, this course gives participants the opportunity to experiment with botanical toning for cyanotypes. Traditionally a deep blue colour, this photographic process can be enhanced with toning baths made from plants in the workshop garden to produce a variety of experimental hues.
Participants will have the opportunity to make cyanotypes from scratch, from mixing chemicals to coating and exposing the paper. We will then tone our cyanotypes and discuss the multitude of potential materials for this process. We also encourage you to bring any old cyanotypes with you that you don’t mind experimenting with!
This course is great for those who have never made cyanotypes before as well as those with experience who want to develop their skills and introduce toning to their practice.

Course Structure

• Introduction to course
• Coating paper
• Exposing cyanotypes
• Bleach and tone cyanotypes
• Lunch
• Exposing cyanotype paper made in the morning
• Continuing to tone cyanotypes
• Clean up and sharing results

About the Tutor

Robyn Maclennan joined Leicester Print Workshop as part of the technician team at the end of 2021, specialising in etching and photographic techniques. She uses multiple printmaking and photography processes to explore the landscape and our connections to it. Robyn holds an MA in Fine Art and is currently undertaking a PhD at London College of Communication where she is researching how EcoGothic theory can be used to re-examine our relationship with nature and how fear has permeated our perceptions of the non-human world. She is particularly interested in the links between the darkness found in the EcoGothic and the necessity of darkness to her photography and printmaking practice as well as how understanding the agency of both the natural world and the works she produces can grant us a better understanding of the world around us. She has exhibited across the UK with highlights including the ‘Withheld’ exhibition in London (2022), the Derby Print Open (2023) and being featured in Somewhere in Between’s 2021 zine ‘Hmmm…Photography and Printmaking'.

You can find more of Robyn’s work here: www.robynmaclennan.com

Leicester Print Workshop

Leicester Print Workshop is the regional development centre for printmaking. Established by artists in 1986, we are a registered charity, supported by Arts Council England. Our RIBA award-winning building is situated in Leicester City Centre's Cultural Quarter and is home to a large, well equipped open access Printmaking Studio.

We have over 30 years’ experience of teaching people printmaking. Our programme offers the largest number and broadest range of printmaking courses in the region, with courses suitable for beginners as well as experienced printmakers, delivered by practicing artists and nationally renowned tutors. Participants learn in small and friendly groups in our purpose-designed studio.

Bookings

Online: You can book online here by credit / debit card or Paypal.

Telephone: You can pay by card over the phone during our opening hours (Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm). Call us on 0116 251 4174.

In person: Call in to Leicester Print Workshop during our opening hours (Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm) to book and pay by card, cash or cheque.

Pre-course information: We will send you details of how to find us and what to bring with you when we process your booking.

Concessions: Full-Print Members of Leicester Print Workshop are entitled to a 10% discount on our inhouse courses. Interested in joining LPW as a member? Click here for more information.