The Corn Mother and John Barleycorn ~ Celebrating plant and nature spirits for Lammas

*five spaces available*
July 23rd 2023: plant cyanotypes/fused glass plant inclusions
July 30th 2023: fused glass plant inclusions/plant cyanotypes
August 6th 2023: fused glass ‘jewels’/plant cyanotypes

Here at the lush height of the growing season, honoured by the year’s first harvest festival of Lammas, I’m offering three creative workshops:
plant cyanotypes, fused glass plant inclusions and fused glass jewels.

Plant cyanotypes:
This old process by which light-sensitive paper is developed in sunlight yields prints with a beautiful deep blue colour.
Using nothing but plants and the sun to create images has an effortless, magical feel.

Fused glass plant inclusions:
This is an alchemical process whereby leaves and other plant materia are fused into glass.
During the firing process, the body of the plant burns away, leaving a ghost image of it behind.

Fused glass jewels:
Using a wide selection of colours and textures of glass, along with 24 carat gold leaf, we’ll create a collection of precious gems, which can then be used in a variety of ways, such as broaches and pendants.
My intent is that some be used as Naga offerings, as these guardian water spirits are said to particularly like gifts of gems.
(See this article on Nagas by Nicholas Breeze Wood: www.3worlds.co.uk/Articles/Snake-Spirits.pdf).

These are three stand-alone workshops.

However, since cyanotypes are weather-dependent, if it’s not sunny on July 23rd I’ll run the cyanotype workshop on July 30th…and if it’s not sunny on July 30th I’ll run it on August 6th.
So ideally people would sign up for all three workshops, but if you sign up for one, please only do so if you’re happy for it to potentially be substituted 🙂

*details for all workshops*
Each workshop is for just 2-5 people, on Sunday mornings from 10.30am to 12.30pm. They are all £35 per person. (i.e. a three-part workshop is £105 per person).
All are suitable for complete beginners: if you think you don’t have an artistic bone in your body, you will discover the artistry of all your bones!

Kids are welcome, at the same cost, if with an adult.

Workshops can be combined with a stay at Rennaldburn, which has its own waterfall and is a short walk away from two of Eskdalemuir’s stone circles. (www.returntotheway.org/arthouse/staying)

Reserve your place by paying for it here: www.returntotheway.org/arthouse/workshops/2023, where you can also find out more details about the workshops, Rennaldburn, Eskdalemuir and me.

(Image: Corn Mother, painted glass)