Screen printing

with bio-based ink

Join artist Greta Desirèe Facchinato in learning how to create inks for more sustainable screen-printing.

Together with plants and living organisms, we can create sustainable bio-based inks as an alternative to most synthetic ones which are available in stores.

£40

All sessions are recorded and made available for a week following the course.

This also includes times for any feedback questions.

Session Content

During this workshop, you will learn how to forage and extract color from plants in order to make sustainable ink, suitable for screen printing on paper and textiles. The intention is to guide each participant in shifting awareness and re-learn our relationship with colour as living matter by creating an interconnection with our ecosystems.

If you would like to test the ink alongside Greta in the workshop, please collect and extract the dye from your plant matter ahead of the session.

Dye extraction instructions:


1. Collect two handfuls of fresh organic material (for example flower petals, kitchen waste, leaves, nut shells). Continue with the next step or dry the material by spreading it on top of a carton or wooden surface (keep out from direct sunlight);


2. To extract the dye, pour around 500ml of hot water on top of the material in a stainless steel pan. Leave to simmer for at least one hour. Filter the liquid through a colander and discard the plant material. Pour the extracted dye into a jar, and store it in a cool and dark place or in the fridge (remember to label it). N.B. In the case of nuts or roots, soak them in hot water and close them in a jar. Leave to ferment for at least two weeks prior to the workshop.

FOR THE 2 HOUR LIVE SESSION YOU WILL NEED:

  • General

    Kitchen towels

    Electric cooking plate

    Access to electricity and water (sink, tap, drain, etc).

    A spoon for stirring

    Tea Kettle

  • Materials

    A plant material, dried or fresh - for example, flower petals, kitchen waste, leaves, and nut shells

    Ph paper strips

    Immersion blender

    Soda ash or baking soda

    Alum (Aluminium potassium)

    Arabic gum in powder, Guar gum in powder, Agar Agar in powder

    Cloves or thyme essential oil

    Small screen printing frame with an exposed image of your choice and a squeegee (facultative based on if you would like to screen print alongside Greta in the workshop using your ink).

  • Tools

    Two empty glass jars of 250ml or more, with lids

    A stainless steel pot for your dye

    Funnel (small or medium size)

    A small piece of cheesecloth or fine mesh fabric

    Measuring scoops of different sizes

    masking tape

    A4 thick cotton paper

Book Here

Series Feedback

  • 'These workshops have been hugely influential in the way my practice has developed'.

    Joan

  • ‘Mind blowing and heart opening workshop … dense with practical and poetic inspiration’

    Cam

  • 'Full of inspiration and magic.'

    Kathryn

  • 'Thank you so much. Two hours very well spent with plenty to think about and do.'

    Liz

  • 'Thank you all for an amazing and inspirational Session! I'm just starting a new project and so this has all been really helpful!'

    Naomi

  • 'Thank you everyone. Really inspiring and nice to feel that connection with others.'

    Jess

  • 'Thank you all so much! It's been one of the best sessions I've done in ages. x'

    Elder

Workshop
Host

Greta Desirèe Facchinato

Greta Desirèe Facchinato (IT/LU) is a research-based multidisciplinary artist and designer. Through the crossflow of different mediums and the investigation of daily life encounters, gestures, and materials her practice invites us to experience matter from an embodied awareness. In 2018 she graduated with a master's degree in artistic research from KABK Den Haag (The Netherlands) receiving the Master Artistic Research Award 2018. Since then she runs her studio and works on creative projects in the field of design for analog and digital media. In 2021 with her project Color is Alive she researched organic ink making and screen printing with the support of Grafische Werkplaats Den Haag and Gemeente Den Haag. Since then she is been working with the knowledge of color and the interconnection with our environment through the practice of making sustainable ink for printing techniques. Currently, with The Ink Project – Between Craft and Technology, supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL, she is investigating the potential crossover between the tradition of making ink with plants and microorganisms and its application to digital printing.