Plant-Based Printing Processes (online course)

artistically rendered photo of botanical material

Summer 2025 Course
Dates: June 5 – July 24 , 2025
Day/Time: Thursdays, 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM on Zoom
Level: Beginning – Advanced
Instructor: Anne Eder

Get outdoors with this introduction to plant-based printing processes that use light and common plant materials obtained from the backyard, a nearby park, or even the grocery! This class will cover anthotypes, chlorophyll printing, and other plant-based printing methods. We will meet via an online platform once a week for demonstrations and students will then take what they have learned and complete that week’s assignment, returning for troubleshooting, critique, and a new demo each week. Most items needed to take this course should be easily obtainable. With your registration, you will receive access to a Google Classroom site for this course which provides a place for sharing of ideas, discussion, and hand-outs and will feature recordings of each class. In case you miss a class or would like to review, these recordings will be available for 30 days after the end of the course.

Note: this is an online-only course and does not include access to the Ceramics Program facility. Registration will begin April 30, 2025 at 10:00am.

Materials List

Because this summer session combines Intro and Advanced methods, there are a few more items at the bottom of the list that you may be interested in trying, but you do not have to decide now.
All processes will need a dim room to coat emulsions using low tungsten light. For lumens, best in very low light or under a red safelight. That said, fogged paper will usually still work for this so don’t be overly concerned about light.

ANTHOTYPES WEEK ONE

Paper substrate—any good watercolor paper will usually work well, but feel free to try other papers, fabric, nonglossy ceramic, wood, or other surfaces.
A means of extracting juice from plants—juicer, blender, mortar and pestle—any of these will work.
Denatured alcohol (Everclear or vodka will work!). Acetic acid from lemon juice or vinegar can be used along with or instead of the alcohol to increase contrast and intensity.
Cheesecloth or fine sieve.
Foam or regular brushes for applying emulsion. Hake brushes also recommended. Small trays for dipping optional.
A contact frame or some pieces of glass (tape the edges for safety, rigid cardboard or equivalent for backing, clamps or clips, tape, or old glass photo frame (no UV glass—we want those UV rays!)
Assorted blossoms, petals, leaves, roots, veggies, etc. for juicing.
Transparency sheets. These can be drawn on or run through a printer. If you cannot get transparencies, objects may be used such as leaves or flowers or other material that can be flattened for contact with the paper as in a photogram, or you can make a waxed paper transparency. Link here to a YouTube video for that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Fo8seMrFo&t=10s

CHLOROPHYLL PRINTING WEEK TWO

Sturdy leaves. Nothing too delicate if possible. Hosta leaves work great.
Transparency sheets.
Glass (or acetate sheets) and clips.
If you have them, small water vials are helpful, or leaf can stand upright in a glass of water, or a plastic bag with water and a rubber band can be used.

LUMEN AND PHYTOGRAM PRINTING WEEK THREE/FOUR

Black and white photo paper, any size any finish, short date or expired is okay, as well as fresh of course. Film, either sheet or roll, any size, expired is fine.
For making chemistry:
vitamin C (ascorbic acid),
washing soda (soda ash or sodium carbonate).
Photographic fixer, old school hypo is best (Sodium thiosulphate crystals and distilled water). You may use commercial Photographic fixer at a reduced dilution. Crystals available at Bostick and Sullivan, Photographers Formulary, Artcraft Chemicals, and even Amazon. Salt fixing is also an option. Plain sea salt with no additives.

OPTIONAL

Gold Toner (there are many recipes, but typical POP toner will do. Available already mixed from Bostick and Sullivan or mix your own from powdered chemicals).
Resin --Art Resin recommended. Optional -for preserving chlorophyll prints.
Artist wax. Doorlands. Optional
Spray Varnish with UV protection. Hahnemühle or Krylon recommended.
Optional but very useful: salt, alum, a bit of copper for extracting leftover silver from your fixer before disposing of it, instant coffee, trays or glass baking pans for processing.

SECOND HALF OF COURSE: optional photographic chemistry:

One cyanotype chemistry kit
(powder) https://www.freestylephoto.biz/070090-Formulary-Cyanotype-Powder-Kit-1-…
(liquid) https://www.freestylephoto.biz/070091-Formulary-Liquid-Cyanotype-Kit-1-Liter Also available here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/313645-REG/Photographers_Formula…
Alum, for ecodye and botanical contact printing.

All registered students will receive an email confirmation with the class syllabus one week before the start date.

Cost:

$25 for Harvard College Undergraduate Students; $375 for Harvard Graduate Students and Adult Community; Harvard Employee TAP Regular and Long Service - follow instructions in online registration system for pricing. Registration will begin April 30, 2025 at 10:00am.

Course Fees:

Your course fee covers Instruction only; this course does not include access to the Ceramics Program studio. With your registration, you will receive access to a Google Classroom site for this course which provides a place for sharing of ideas, discussion, and hand-outs and will feature recordings of each class. In case you miss a class or would like to review, these recordings will be available for 30 days after the end of the course.

User types:

Adult Community: 18+; General Public; Harvard alumni, fellows, Extension School students, and faculty/staff who are not TAP-eligible; students from universities other than Harvard.
Harvard Employees eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): TAP regular (employees worked less than 15 years) and TAP long service (employees who worked 15 or more years at Harvard).
Harvard College Undergraduate Students: Currently enrolled students at Harvard College. This does not include Harvard Extension School Undergraduate Students. You must register with your Harvard email – we can arrange for an alternative email to be used for class after registration is complete.
Harvard Graduate Students: Currently enrolled students in a Harvard University Graduate Program. This does not include Harvard Extension School Graduate Students.

Questions?

For questions regarding course content, policies, staffing or facilities, please contact Director, Kathy King.
For questions regarding registration, purchase of tools and materials, please contact Administrative Coordinator, Ji-Eun Kim.