The Natural World in Drawing, Books, and Paper with Doug Baulos

Forstall – 3 hours each Saturday July 23, August 27, Sept 17, October 8
Class times from – 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
$175, which includes a $25 supplies fee

This series of short workshop intensives will explore natural and upcycled sustainable art processes. Each session will embrace multiple processes that will gradually build towards a finished book or portfolio. Participants will experiment widely with a selection of natural media and other historical and innovative approaches to developing works on paper & other grounds. Students will first be guided in creating innovative papers by learning to combine familiar techniques with new approaches and conventional media with unusual formats and surfaces. Participants will be encouraged to use and experiment widely with materials. All the materials will be supplied to participants, but they are asked to bring the following tools: a ruler, pencil, awl or pushpin, waxed linen thread, eraser, tiny bowl and brush for glue, scissors and cutting matt and xacto blade or utility knife, wax paper, bone folder. Doug will also demo several needlework effects if you want to bring other types of string, embroidery thread and additional needles. You can also bring other paper ephemera or collage materials as fits your aesthetic trajectory!

July 23 – Eco Printing is the contact printing of plants onto fiber. Participants will learn about plants, papers, paper equipment, processes and bundling techniques. Participants will make a portfolio of papers. We will look at various traditional ways to design using natural dyes including print, paint, or tie and then dye in the vat using myriad techniques. No experience necessary, just a willingness to experiment and enjoy the bounties of nature. We will also use naturals dyes in combination and cross dyes to create decorative grounds for future projects. We will expose paper with plant based photo emulsions and discuss how to make lake pigments and which Alabama plants can be used as anthotype emulsions.

August 27 –
Using handmade papers and natural dyes, we will create taxonomies and kirigami paper and book forms. Participants will sew/applique/collage and experiment with paper engineering and applique abstraction to capture the essence of their favorite flora/fauna/species. We will create a kirigami style book form using papers created in the July class and we will do workshop exercises on how to focus and heighten awareness of textures and patterns in nature. We will explore forms that promote field and nature inquiry and strengthen your artistic and meditation practice. We will discuss Shinrin-yoku, which is a widely recognized relaxation and or stress management activity in Asia.

Sept 17th – Indigo and Itajime Paper Treatments – September is all about with itajime and shibori and other dye processes on handmade papers. Many processes with be experimented with and dyed several times in a fermented indigo and other natural dye bath. We will discuss using soy milk, alum and other mordants and how to create natural dyes and inks. We will look at various traditional ways to design using natural dyes and create decorative papers. As a group we will look at how India and Japan have used natural dyes for Kalamkari Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh and rice resist. We will also discuss the difference between natural and synthetic dyes as well as why some dyes are eco-friendlier and more sustainable

October 8 – Sustainable Vegan Leather Reinterpretations and the Limp Vellum binding – In this workshop students will be introduced to the basic Limp Vellum binding structure but using created sustainable vellum/leather instead of actual leather. We will explore multiple possibilities to make leather like substrates from transfer and collage possibilities. Developed in the 14th Century and used widely for commonplace books, the limp vellum book is made with a single piece of vellum folded around the text block, with the front and back covers being folded double. Students will sew the text block on straps, which will be attached to the vellum cover. All participants are expected to come away with an amazing vegan earth friendly finished Limp Vellum book and will have acquired the skills to make this book at home. This book will function also as a portfolio or showcase for things created in the previous classes as well.

Level 1: Beginner
This class is appropriate for beginner to advanced painters. Covers the basic techniques of the medium and offers individual assistance. No prior experience is required.

UPDATED CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations made 14 days or more in advance of the workshop will receive a refund equal to 50% of the cost of the class. Cancellations made within 14 days of the event will not receive a refund. This will help ensure that the instructor will be paid for their time and effort of teaching the workshop.