Making different motif blocks with vegetables and painting on fabric.
Block prints - A block print involves applying color to one surface and pressing the color on to another surface. Sarees and household linen are traditionally printed with elaborately carved wooden blocks. However, fruit and vegetables make wonderful natural blocks. Here we have described and illustrated how vegetable blocks can be made, the colors to print with, directions to make printed coasters and suggestions for using these blocks for other purposes.
Choosing the vegetables: Choose firm and dry vegetables like onions, capsicum, beans or cauliflower.
Preparing the block: Prepare a working surface. Spread a newspaper if you are working on a table. You will need a chopping board, a sharp knife, and container to collect the trimmings. Do not peel the vegetables. The peel outlines the design and holds the vegetable together. Before applying paint to the cut surface, dry the block to remove all excess moisture.
Paints: The color to be used depends on what you are printing. Water soluble paints, oil paints, printing ink, and fabric paint can be used to make block prints.
Poster color can only be used where the item will not be washed, for instance, on paper.
The paint should be fairly thick. This paint runs on glossy paper. Thus, a paper with a matte finish is better for printing. Oil based paints can be used on all kinds of surfaces: wood, paper, cloth. Fabric paint is, of course, best used on cloth. Again, fabric paint should not be so diluted that it soaks through the cloth. Block prints are easier to make on smooth cotton fabrics. Some man-made fabrics do not retain printed color.
To apply the paint: Paint the surface of the block with a stiff bristled brush or dab the paint on the block with a wad of cotton wool or a sponge.
The prints: Shown here are actual prints made with vegetable blocks.
Time Duration: 4 Hours. 1 Day Workshop workshop Date: 21- 11- 2018