More than sun-kissed prints
Step into the luminous world of cyanotype printmaking with Sally and discover a process powered by sunshine, curiosity, and creative magic. In this dynamic two-day workshop, you’ll learn the essential foundations of cyanotype before diving deeper into ways to stretch, layer, and push the process beyond the basics.
From first exposure to confident experimentation, Sally will guide you through an exciting hands-on journey that balances technical understanding with playful exploration. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have created a rich collection of glowing, sun-kissed prints on both paper and fabric, each one uniquely yours.
2-day Workshop
Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 September 2026
Workshops run from 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Morning tea and lunch are provided at your workshop.
Early bird booking: TBA
Full fee: TBA
A creative day, grounded in nature with play
This workshop is not just about making prints, it’s about slowing down, tuning in, and reconnecting with yourself through landscape, movement, and mindful making.
We begin the day gently, with a morning walk immersed in the ancient beauty of the Grampians. As we wander together, we’ll observe textures, rhythms, shadows, and shapes; the quiet poetry of bark, rock, grasses, and sky.
You’ll gather visual references along the way, but just as importantly, this shared walk acts as a soft landing: breaking the ice, calming the nervous system, and opening the door to creative flow. There is no pressure here, just breathing, noticing, and being present.
From there, we return to the studio space and move into a hands-on introduction to materials and process. You’ll be guided step-by-step through safely preparing your paper and cyanotype chemicals, with a strong emphasis on low-toxicity, approachable methods that invite experimentation.
This stage is all about curiosity and confidence, learning how things work, asking questions, and letting go of fear.
Before committing to any final idea, you’ll have plenty of time to play. You’ll create samples, test marks, explore textures, and discover what feels right in your hands. This exploratory phase is deeply important: it builds trust in your instincts and allows ideas to emerge organically rather than being forced.
Many participants describe this as the moment where their shoulders drop, and the joy kicks in.
As the afternoon unfolds, everything comes together. With the foundations in place and your confidence humming, you’ll move into printing properly. Layering, pulling prints, responding intuitively to what appears on the page.
Together as a group, we will print in the sunshine, letting the light and fresh air become part of the experience. It’s energetic, absorbing, and deeply satisfying, the kind of focused making that quiets the mind and nourishes the heart.
Alchemy, experimentation and letting the work evolve
Our second day together is about gently pushing the process and embracing experimentation. Building on the confidence of day one, we’ll explore how natural stains such as tea, coffee, spices, vinegars, and other humble kitchen materials can interact with the chemistry of paper and ink.
You’ll discover how these everyday elements bloom, stain, oxidise, and shift across the surface, creating earthy colours, unexpected marks, and beautifully layered textures that can’t be planned or repeated.
This is a day of letting go and trusting the process. You’ll layer stains with your printed imagery, slow down, observe, and respond intuitively as the work evolves.
By allowing space for surprise and imperfection, the making becomes deeply meditative and freeing, resulting in work that feels rich, soulful, and alive, and a creative experience that nourishes both mind and heart.
- Jacquard Cyanotype Kit
- 1 x Hake Brush, size 10 | 30mm
- Cyanotype Frame made up of;
- 1 x Clear acrylic sheet, A3, 3-5mm thick
- Thick Cardboard A3 (to act as a backing board to acrylic sheets)
- 4 x Bull-dog Clips
- 1-2x Calico Tote bag (washed)
- 5x Somerset 300gsm Paper, 250gsm – 300gsm | any colour
- Measuring jug, 1L
- 1x solid black press stud wallet folder
- Amber or black plastic bottle 500ml – 1L
- Drop sheet or plastic tablecloth
- Newspaper
Materials List
- Jacquard Cyanotype Kit
- 1 x Hake Brush, size 10 | 30mm
- Cyanotype Frame made up of;
- 1 x Clear acrylic sheet, A3, 3-5mm thick
- Thick Cardboard A3 (to act as a backing board to acrylic sheets)
- 4 x Bull-dog Clips
- 1-2x Calico Tote bag (washed)
- 5x Somerset 300gsm Paper, 250gsm – 300gsm | any colour
- Measuring jug, 1L
- 1x solid black press stud wallet folder
- Amber or black plastic bottle 500ml – 1L
- Drop sheet or plastic tablecloth
- Newspaper
Day One: A creative day, grounded in nature with play
This workshop is not just about making prints, it’s about slowing down, tuning in, and reconnecting with yourself through landscape, movement, and mindful making.
We begin the day gently, with a morning walk immersed in the ancient beauty of the Grampians. As we wander together, we’ll observe textures, rhythms, shadows, and shapes; the quiet poetry of bark, rock, grasses, and sky.
You’ll gather visual references along the way, but just as importantly, this shared walk acts as a soft landing: breaking the ice, calming the nervous system, and opening the door to creative flow. There is no pressure here, just breathing, noticing, and being present.
From there, we return to the studio space and move into a hands-on introduction to materials and process. You’ll be guided step-by-step through safely preparing your paper and cyanotype chemicals, with a strong emphasis on low-toxicity, approachable methods that invite experimentation.
This stage is all about curiosity and confidence, learning how things work, asking questions, and letting go of fear.
Before committing to any final idea, you’ll have plenty of time to play. You’ll create samples, test marks, explore textures, and discover what feels right in your hands. This exploratory phase is deeply important: it builds trust in your instincts and allows ideas to emerge organically rather than being forced.
Many participants describe this as the moment where their shoulders drop, and the joy kicks in.
As the afternoon unfolds, everything comes together. With the foundations in place and your confidence humming, you’ll move into printing properly. Layering, pulling prints, responding intuitively to what appears on the page.
Together as a group, we will print in the sunshine, letting the light and fresh air become part of the experience. It’s energetic, absorbing, and deeply satisfying, the kind of focused making that quiets the mind and nourishes the heart.
Day Two: Alchemy, experimentation and letting the work evolve
Our second day together is about gently pushing the process and embracing experimentation. Building on the confidence of day one, we’ll explore how natural stains such as tea, coffee, spices, vinegars, and other humble kitchen materials can interact with the chemistry of paper and ink.
You’ll discover how these everyday elements bloom, stain, oxidise, and shift across the surface, creating earthy colours, unexpected marks, and beautifully layered textures that can’t be planned or repeated.
This is a day of letting go and trusting the process. You’ll layer stains with your printed imagery, slow down, observe, and respond intuitively as the work evolves.
By allowing space for surprise and imperfection, the making becomes deeply meditative and freeing, resulting in work that feels rich, soulful, and alive, and a creative experience that nourishes both mind and heart.
Workshops run 9am – 4pm.
Morning tea and lunch are provided at your workshop.
Catering is supplied by the local bakery and will comprise of a salad roll, muffin or slice and piece of fruit daily. Please advise of your diet requirements upon booking. If you require specific dietary needs that cannot be catered for by the bakery please bring your own.
Book your own accommodation in Halls Gap or Pomonal. There are many styles and levels to choose from. Our website has a list of some of the accommodation options in Halls Gap and the places listed do offer a discount to Grampians Brushes participants.
Halls Gap has a wide range of evening meal options, from local take away, cafes and restaurants. There is a small supermarket with good supplies if you are choosing to self-cater. Local wineries have available award-winning wines for your enjoyment.
Join other students and tutors for evening meals, exhibitions, bushwalks and more. A full program of activities will be forwarded to enrolled participants in August. Partners, family and friends are welcome at all evening activities. As part of our opening night there is an artist market, and at the GrampianArts Market Place situated at the Halls Gap HUB. Senior Art Supplies will be selling specialist art supplies, Dairing selling speciality papers and Fibreworks.
