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Heather Fortner, of Orchid Street Studio, class offerings:
Gyotaku-The Art of the Fish Print
In this 6-hour workshop, you will learn the elements of creating a fish print using oil-based relief inks. Subjects covered are selection of the fish, preparation, inking methods and types of rice paper. Emphasis is on the creation of a realistic print, utilizing the elements of design, balance, value, and shading to achieve a pleasing overall image. Expect to leave the class with at least four prints of two or more different fish
Celebrate Seaweed
“I fell in love with seaweeds in Hawai’i in the 1970’s. It was amazing to be able to go for a walk on the beach and come home with ingredients for a salad, a pickle, and a soup. After moving to Florida I noticed that the beachgoers here regarded seaweeds as a nuisance, and paid to remove them from the beaches! These were the same seaweeds that were so cherished in Hawai’i! So now I offer a field workshop called “Celebrate Seaweed” to showcase these remarkable and versatile plants.”
This 6-hour workshop introduces the diversity and uses of marine algae (seaweeds) of the Gulf of Mexico beach in a field trip to the Siesta Key followed by a classroom session. Expect to collect, identify, and press at least 10 different varieties from the shore wash (red drift), learn which ones are edible, sample them, and then press the delicate ones onto paper to create a personal herbarium (identification guide) or unique greeting cards.
Nature Mono-printing with a Press
Nature printing creates an image that reproduces in exacting detail the features, veins, shapes and design of a natural object. In this workshop you use plants and plant parts on an inked plate to create a series of images using repetitive runs though the etching press in the style of John Fass, a renowned 20th century American printmaker. Learn about design, balance, value, selecting proper plant material, and inking methods. You will create a series of nature prints that builds on the design and values of the previous one, each one embossed into the heavy printing paper in by the pressure of a 24” etching press.
Advanced Gyotaku
This class is designed for the experienced printer who wants to move beyond the single “portrait” style of fish printing. This workshop addresses the topic of creating multiples and schools by masking, shadow techniques, and collage. It also teaches techniques of adding backgrounds by water color and acrylic washes and the addition of objects such as seaweed, shells, and leaves.