I’ve started the second module of my C&G course now. Last weekend I was taking pictures of lines. It’s amazing how many lines there are around about when you start looking for them. I took all my photos in the house and in the garden. No need to go further afield.
This weekend I’ve been monoprinting. I started off with acrylic paint in my new sketchbook and then moved on to printing on cloth. I must admit I couldn’t believe that it would work with thickened dye on fabric soaked in washing soda solution and then dried. I didn’t think that there would be enough moisture and chemicals to get a reaction going with the dye. Even though I’ve read about it in Ann Johnston’s books and in the course notes. As it was an activity for the course I was obliged to try it out. And surprise, surprise it worked 
Here are some photos of the printing on fabric. First of all you roller thickened dye paste onto a sheet of acetate and then you make marks:
Then you flip the acetate sheet onto the fabric and give it a going over with another clean roller to press the dye into the fabric. If you have too much dye on the acetate sheet at this point you end up splodging your marks. Ask how i know 
P.S. I was winning at Tic Tac Toe (or Noughts and Crosses).
Repeat as many times as you have dye paste and prepared fabric.
The results are in various stages of finishing – the bucket process etc. Watch this space for photos of the results. My scepticism has been proven wrong.
P.P.S. Note the vintage ICI lab coat – from my industrial year 1976-1977 – a well travelled fashion item.
