Aya Fiber Studio

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

This workshop explores all of the exciting ways in which Instant Indigo can be combined with encaustic. Instant

Indigo is a pre-reduced indigo crystal and can be used as a vat dye on fabric as well as a painting medium on both

paper and fabric. Instant indigo is unique, very versatile and can create interesting collage material that can be

embedded into your encaustic layers. What is most exciting is that it can be painted directly on top of the encaustic

surface, which allows for the painting of thin lines with tiny brushes, applying layers of lines or thin pools of

translucent indigo color. The rich indigo color is unmistakable in that there really is nothing else like it’s clear blue

with a hint of green hue. The crystals can also be mixed with a variety of media other than water, such as soy milk,

orange juice and ink, to enrich the color and/or reduce the beading of the media on the encaustic surface. Collage,

mark-making, rust printing on paper and fabric and the combination of other natural materials such as horse hair and

pyrography in combination with indigo and encaustic is also explored.

STUDENT SUPPLY LIST: Students should bring the following materials with them:

 sharp scissors

 materials for collage (fabric, papers, magazine images, photos, etc.)

 mixed media sketchbook and drawing media of your choice

 Closed toe shoes for safety

 2-4 wooden painting panels or heavy mixed media paper or mixed media board. Your preference of

8x8, 10x10, 12x12 but no larger or smaller, please and nothing coated in acrylic or acrylic gesso.

Sizes don’t have to be square.

 3-5 natural hair brushes in various sizes for encaustic painting. Hake brushes are recommended,

please keep brush sizes from 1”-2.5” width. One brush will be designated your medium brush, so

must be free of color if you are bringing used brushes.

 1-2 watercolor brushes, 1 flat, 1 round in manageable sizes are recommended.

 1 yard RTD silk habotai (8-12mm) or good quality cotton fabric

 Box of small T-pins

OPTIONAL MATERIALS

 any tool or material for any technique that you normally employ while working with encaustic. 

 basic encaustic colors will be provided, however, if you prefer certain colors, please bring them. 

 decorative stencils, mesh, doilies, etc-anything flat with open areas that can be used as a stencil.

 smock (optional)

 found objects for dipping in indigo for mark-making

 Heat gun or embossing tool only if you have one