Deconstructive screenprint (DSP) is a technique developed by American fibre artist Kerr Grabowski, its a technique to apply dye on fabric with a silkscreen. This technique is more environment friendly because the thickener is a natural product called manutex, which is actually kelp. No toxic emulsion is needed to set up the screen. And its easy to clean. Disadvantage is that once the dye has “deconstructed” from the screen to the medium, a new screen has to be prepared. Therefore its more time consuming but results are always unique and cannot be repeated. If you are interested to learn more about this technique have a look at Kerr’s website.
I have done some tests on fabric (cotton works best) but also find it works beautiful on paper. So I gave it a go to do some unique little prints.
Anything flat with texture can be used to prepare the screen, like leaves, plastic bags, bubble wrap or string.
The prepared screen has to be completely dry before printing (in the image the thickener with added dye powder is still wet).
I was so excited with the finished prints, lovely colors, lovely texture.
Even the details look gorgeous.
Some of them will be available for sale in my studio on the Kāpiti Arts Trail.
Deconstructive screenprint on paper
Deconstructive screenprint (DSP) is a technique developed by American fibre artist Kerr Grabowski, its a technique to apply dye on fabric with a silkscreen. This technique is more environment friendly because the thickener is a natural product called manutex, which is actually kelp. No toxic emulsion is needed to set up the screen. And its easy to clean. Disadvantage is that once the dye has “deconstructed” from the screen to the medium, a new screen has to be prepared. Therefore its more time consuming but results are always unique and cannot be repeated. If you are interested to learn more about this technique have a look at Kerr’s website.
I have done some tests on fabric (cotton works best) but also find it works beautiful on paper. So I gave it a go to do some unique little prints.
Anything flat with texture can be used to prepare the screen, like leaves, plastic bags, bubble wrap or string.
The prepared screen has to be completely dry before printing (in the image the thickener with added dye powder is still wet).
I was so excited with the finished prints, lovely colors, lovely texture.
Even the details look gorgeous.
Some of them will be available for sale in my studio on the Kāpiti Arts Trail.
Rangiora packaging for Arts Trail
I love that plant. Rangiora. I dont know why its called rangiora, but rangi means sky and ora life in te reo māori. I first noticed it because of its unusual leaf form.
Then I learnt that it has been used in rongoā, traditional māori medicine. And the first settlers used it as toilet paper because of the soft paper like underside of the leaf.
I tried eco print with rangiora, without much success. My friend Helena wrote me a German bread recipe on a leaf of Rangiora (and the bread is really yummy).
Because it has such lovely veins I tried to simple paint it with thickened dye and printed it on my brown paper bags, ready for the Kapiti Arts Trail.
Finished. Hope to print a new batch soon…
Kāpiti Arts Trail 2015
First things first, after a few considerations I decided to give it a go and applied for the Kāpiti Arts Trail 2015. And got in! This will be the first time I open my new studio for the public and I just realized its only 6 weeks to go.
Here the key dates and further information from Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC), you can also download the official Kapiti Arts Guide. Dont miss out and having a browse to see what other amazing local artists have to offer. I am sure it will be a successful two weekends.
Spring?
What is better than a walk on a beautiful clear morning? Technically it is still winter but signs of spring showing everywhere! Plus the sounds of the birds and the smell of moist crisp forest air…
Cannot describe the feelings but I guess that is a form of belonging. Kia ora Aotearoa!
Poet Meets Artist
Confluent 2015 exhibition opening this Friday! This is an annual collaboration between local poets and artists.
Join and enjoy poems and art works in different media over a beer or wine and some nibbles!
This is a taster of my work reflecting on a poem of Hal Gimpelson.
Matariki Star Weaving workshop at Mahara Gallery
As part of the Matariki Celebrations on the Kapiti Coast environmental jeweller JoAnna Mere and myself were weaving stars with kids using Harakeke (New Zealand flax). Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars (the Pleiades), which arise in mid winter. Matariki symbolize the start of the Māori new year, the end of the harvest, when food was abundant but is also a time to remember the deceased.
In Māori language matariki means “eyes of god”.
For me it was the first time to give a workshop with kids but surprisingly enough those little ones were really lovely, keen on learning, and all of them left happily with a woven star and more ideas to follow up at home. Thanks to JoAnna for this experience and to Mahara Gallery, the initiators and hosts of this event.
Happy kids
handmade paper snuggeries
Wintertime is snuggle time, it has to be warm and cosy inside. I made these snuggeries from harakeke (NZ flax) and red hot poker pulp which I harvested and stored in the freezer earlier this year.
Harakeke and linen fibres
Red hot poker
Harakeke and red hot poker
3D drawing with Kowhai Seed Pods
an idea further developed. I knotted those kowhai seed pods together to achieve a bit more structure and see what came out of this. Thanks Elise, she is such a patient hat model.
My first harakeke hat!
Done! I always wanted to be able to weave a hat, I had the opportunity to learn some new techniques in my raranga (flax weaving course) in Levin, NZ. So I gave it a go!
The brim maybe a bit short but it fits perfect. I am going to give it away as that is a Maori custom, to give the first new woven type of weaving away. Really good to know I can weave another one:)
A productive day eco printing
The cold time of the year has arrived, so making comfortable and warming merino scarves using eco print felt just right.
A walk on our farm and through my neighborhood picking the last colorful leaves. Good that the natives don’t loose their leaves during winter time.
Placing the leaves on merino knit fabric (wool and natural dyes have an affinity for each other), then rolled in bundles.
Letting the pot (here a copper pot which function as mordant) sitting on the fireplace feels somehow very natural and saves energy.
This is a range of my merino eco prints, some dyed with botanical dyes afterwards to give them a softer looking finish.
