Explorations in textile pattern design using acrylic inks
5-day workshop

Have you always wanted to explore surface design using dyes, but have hesitated because you don’t have a space to safely work with dyes or feel intimidated by the process, or you’re concerned about the environmental impact because of water restrictions in your area?

Well, acrylic inks are the perfect alternative, and the best part is the fabric is ready to use as soon as it’s dry!

Learn how surprisingly easy (and affordable) it is to make fiber-friendly acrylic inks using dispersed pigments and a few simple ingredients from Prochemical and Dye. These DIY acrylic inks and textile paints will leave your fabric with a soft hand and give you exactly the colors you want.

In this 5 day workshop, learn the basics of color theory while making and mixing inks and learn how to avoid mud, unless that’s your thing and then Judy can teach you how to create a full spectrum of beautiful earthy colors! Learn how to choose and combine colors when printing for maximum visual impact.

Explore a multitude of ways to create richly textured “base” fabrics by applying acrylics inks to fabric with different types of brush-strokes, sponges, altering ink and water ratios, adding salt, mono-printing, and scrunching, as well as pleating, stitching, clamping and pole wrapping fabric with a variety of shibori techniques.

Learn to make foam stamps, hand-carved rubber stamps; and how to successfully print with foam, rubber and wood stamps on fabric.

Master screen printing with thermofax screens, then apply pattern design principles using various types of repeats to print on your textured “base” fabrics.

As anyone who’s taken classes with Judy before knows, it’ll be a blast of inspiration, innovation, information and fun.

5 Day Student Supply List

• one 18 gallon trash bag, preferably smooth plastic not the textured stretchy ones.

• a large paint palette with deep wells, able to hold separate colors of ink (disposable plastic plates with dividers, or old muffin tins work great )

• a flat paint palette or tray

• quart size container for rinse water

• pencil and permanent black marker

• two 1” wide foam brushes

• craft knife (x-acto), small cutting mat, grid ruler, scissors

• one spool upholstery thread (any color) and a size 18 embroidery needle

Optional supplies:*

A variety of small to medium size synthetic bristle paint brushes, thermofax screens, rubber stamps, wood stamps, Blick economy baren https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-economy-baren 

If you are driving a 24” long PVC plumbing pipe for shibori * Judy will bring many of these items to share, (and thermofax screens to sell), but if you have stamps or thermofax screen designs you’d like to use in the workshop, please bring them.

Supply Fee $70 includes:

• 2 yards pfd cotton fabric

• 1/4 yd silk/cotton fabric

• large synthetic bristle paint brush

• Sticky back craft foam

• Duralar film

Shared Supply of:

• acrylic ink (dispersed pigments, and ingredients from prochem)

• screen printing ink

• thermo-fax screens

• rubber bands

• string

• shapes for resists and clamps

• plastic bottles

• various other tools