Description
I have been fortunate enough to visit India on a couple of occasions and was able to watch first hand and have a go at block printing with the master artisans themselves. It inspired me so much that I am now hooked on this ancient form of art printing.
This is an introduction to Indian Block Printing, with a twist, as in, making your own prints to use. You will also be using kantha stitch and couching, Indian style, along with beads and other motifs, to create a small, mixed media concertina book full of opulent ‘Indian Treasures’
Day 1:
- Where did block printing originate from?
- Cutting Vilene pages
- Drawing and cutting out your own blocks with funky foam/mount board. How to apply paint to the block to create a perfect print onto vilene (Wooden blocks can be used also).
- Decorating the background pages with paint, painted bondaweb, transfoils etc
- Cutting shapes and fancy edges using the soldering tool
- Hand embroidery – couching around pages, Indian style with wool/ cord and Perle threads.
Day 2:
- What is Kantha Stitching?
- Continue with couching. Use a Kantha style stitch to decorate and enhance the pages, other embroidery stitches can be used.
- Applying beads to complete the opulent look.
- Assembling the book and adding the finishing touches.