Soy Wax Resist

I recently attended a workshop given by Susan Purney Mark on soy wax resist.  It was one of the best workshops I have ever attended.  It was the first time I had worked with soy wax and I can assure you it won't be the last!!!  I had prepared a couple of stencils using photos (taken during my recent trip to France, therefore no copyright issues) of Beauport Abbey in Brittany.  I affixed one of the stencils to a screen printing frame and painted soy wax into the opening on the stencil.  The image was somewhat degraded because I couldn't get the freezer paper stencil to properly stick to the screen, but I rather like the distressed images that resulted.  What a lucky accident!!!  I had also prepared a couple of stamps using a sponge purchased at a DIY store.  These also worked very well and will be put to good use again.

I am working on a book cover using some other fabric that I printed that day, ising the same inspiration.  We used procion MX dyes, mixed with soda ash and urea, so that we could paint directly onto the fabric after we stamped it with the soy wax.  The second day we used thickened dyes on soda-soaked fabric so that we could use the screen prints.  I can't decide which was my favourite method.  I'm planning another session in the next while, so I'll let you know how that one works out and I'll see if I can pick a favourite.  But maybe it's nice to have both of them tucked away in my 'techniques' stash!! That's fun too!

Susan has a wonderful blog http://www.susanpm.blogspot.com/ filled with tons of information, that you can follow.  She has also authored a couple of books and is currently working on a video.  You might want to sign up to follow her blog....it's well worth the visit.  You might even want to sign up for her next cruise!!! 
The workshop took place in a studio in Duncan, about a one-hour drive from Victoria.  The studio belongs to Gloria Daly and you might want to check out her website as well http://www.studiogart.com/.  Oh gosh, so many fun happenings!!
Hope you're having fun too!!
Back soon...