Description
Cyanotype Workshops at Montsalvat
Learn cyanotype in small, hands-on workshops with award-winning photographic artist and Montsalvat Resident Artist Aldona Kmieć.
Held at historic Montsalvat in Eltham, Melbourne, the program ranges from a three-hour introduction for complete beginners to full-day photographic cyanotype workshops where you’ll transform your own photographs into hand-printed Prussian blue images.
Explore one of photography’s earliest alternative processes while learning how cyanotype can be used in contemporary photography and art practice.
You’ll learn how to prepare and coat surfaces with light-sensitive chemistry, expose using sunlight or indoor UV light, wash and process prints, understand exposure and tonal results, and work across paper, cotton and other suitable surfaces.
Sessions are intentionally small, allowing plenty of time for individual guidance, experimentation and troubleshooting.
Small groups · Maximum 8 participants · All materials provided · Montsalvat entry included
No previous experience is required for introductory workshops.
Looking for a creative gift? Workshop gift vouchers are also available.
🟦 INTRO TO CYANOTYPE
3 hours · Beginner · $199 Adult / $189 Concession · Maximum 8
Discover cyanotype from the beginning in this hands-on introduction to one of photography’s oldest and most beautiful alternative processes.
You’ll learn how to prepare and coat paper with cyanotype chemistry, create compositions using botanicals, found objects and other materials, expose your work using UV light or sunlight, and wash and process your finished prints.
You’ll learn how to:
- prepare and coat paper with cyanotype chemistry
- create strong compositions using botanicals and found objects
- expose prints using sunlight and indoor UV light
- understand exposure times and test exposures
- wash, process and dry your prints
- experiment with paper, cotton and other suitable surfaces
- safely continue experimenting with cyanotype at home
You’ll create: materials are provided for approximately 5–7 cyanotype prints and experiments during the session.
No previous experience required.
Who is this workshop for?
Perfect for complete beginners, photographers, artists, makers and anyone curious about alternative photographic processes.
You don’t need to know anything about photography or printmaking before you come.
🟦 WET CYANOTYPE: TONING & LAYERING MASTERCLASS
3 hours · Intermediate / Experimental · $220 Adult / $210 Conc · Max 5-8
Take cyanotype beyond traditional blueprints and explore a more experimental, painterly approach to the process.
This hands-on intermediate workshop explores wet cyanotype, toning and layering techniques, allowing you to create expressive, unpredictable prints with greater depth, texture and colour variation.
Rather than working towards a perfectly controlled Prussian blue print, you’ll experiment with manipulating the cyanotype process, introducing different materials and solutions, building layers and altering finished prints through toning.
Each print develops differently, making this workshop particularly suited to experimentation and discovering unexpected results.
You’ll learn how to:
- prepare and coat paper for wet cyanotype
- understand how moisture changes exposure and image formation
- work with botanicals, objects, textures and layered compositions
- experiment with wet cyanotype techniques and controlled unpredictability
- introduce additional materials and solutions during exposure
- create layered and multiple-exposure cyanotypes
- bleach and tone finished cyanotype prints
- use natural tannins and other suitable toning materials to shift colour and mood
- explore variations from traditional Prussian blue through softer, darker and warmer tonal results
- assess successful experiments and develop techniques you can repeat in your own practice
The emphasis is on experimentation rather than identical results. Wet cyanotype responds to moisture, chemistry, materials, temperature and exposure in ways that can produce surprising variations from print to print.
What you’ll take home
You’ll leave with:
- a collection of experimental wet cyanotype prints
- toned and layered cyanotype experiments
- test pieces demonstrating different techniques and tonal effects
- practical knowledge to continue experimenting with wet cyanotype and toning independently
Who is this workshop for?
Ideal for artists, photographers, printmakers and makers who want to move beyond introductory cyanotype and explore a more experimental approach to the medium.
Some previous cyanotype experience is recommended. If you’ve never coated, exposed and processed a cyanotype before, I recommend completing Intro to Cyanotype first.
Small group – allowing plenty of time for experimentation, individual guidance and troubleshooting.
🟦 ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHIC CYANOTYPE
Full day · Photographic cyanotype · $320 Adult / $299 Concession · Max 4-6
Create cyanotype prints from your own photographs
This full-day workshop takes cyanotype beyond the traditional botanical photogram and into photographic printmaking.
Before the workshop, you’ll send me five of your own digital photographs. I will prepare them as high-quality digital negatives specifically for cyanotype printing, ready for you to work with on the day.
You’ll work with your own photographs throughout the workshop while learning how image selection, negative density, exposure, paper and processing influence the final print.
You’ll learn how to:
- select photographs that translate successfully into cyanotype
- understand positive images and photographic negatives
- understand how digital images are prepared as cyanotype negatives
- coat and prepare paper for photographic printing
- control exposure using UV light
- make test exposures and assess tonal range
- create rich Prussian blue photographic prints
- troubleshoot exposure, contrast and negative density
- experiment with different papers and suitable surfaces
- refine your printing process to achieve more consistent results
- develop a repeatable process you can continue at home
What you’ll take home
You’ll leave with:
- five professionally prepared digital negatives made from your own photographs
- several handmade photographic cyanotype prints
- test prints and experiments produced during the workshop
- practical knowledge to continue making photographic cyanotypes independently
Who is this workshop for?
Ideal for photographers, artists, printmakers and anyone interested in transforming their own photographs into handmade alternative photographic prints.
Previous cyanotype experience is helpful but not essential. Complete beginners are welcome, although participants wanting a broader introduction to the process may prefer to start with Intro to Cyanotype.
Small group – allowing time for individual guidance and troubleshooting.
🟦 CYANOTYPE PRINT CLUB
Returning students only · Independent studio session
Single session $110 / 3 Sessions $295
Continue developing your cyanotype practice in a relaxed shared studio environment at Montsalvat.
Cyanotype Print Club is for previous workshop participants who already understand the basic process and want dedicated time, equipment and space to work independently on their own projects.
You’ll have access to:
- cyanotype chemistry
- UV exposure equipment
- washing facilities
- shared studio workspace
- basic studio materials and equipment
- occasional guidance and troubleshooting when needed
There is no structured teaching during Print Club sessions. These sessions are designed for experimentation, repetition and developing your own body of work at your own pace.
Bring your own project ideas, negatives, papers or other suitable surfaces you’d like to experiment with.
Who is this for?
Print Club is available to participants who have previously completed one of my cyanotype workshops or already have equivalent cyanotype experience.
If you’re new to the process, please book Intro to Cyanotype first.
FAQ
What is included?
Workshop fees include tuition, cyanotype chemistry, use of UV exposure equipment, standard workshop materials and entry to Montsalvat.
Specific materials and inclusions vary depending on the workshop and are listed with each session.
Do I need previous experience?
No experience is required for Intro to Cyanotype.
Previous experience is helpful but not essential for Advanced Photographic Cyanotype.
Cyanotype Print Club is intended for returning participants or people with equivalent cyanotype experience and does not include structured tuition.
What should I bring?
You’ll receive an email before your workshop with information about what to bring and how to prepare.
For Advanced Photographic Cyanotype, you’ll be asked to submit five high-resolution digital photographs in advance so your photographic negatives can be prepared before the workshop.
Can I give a workshop as a gift?
Yes. Gift vouchers are available for cyanotype workshops and make a great gift for photographers, artists and creative people.
Cancellations & Rescheduling
As workshops are intentionally kept small and materials and preparation are arranged in advance, the following cancellation and rescheduling policy applies.
Rescheduling
More than 7 days before the workshop
You may transfer your booking to another available workshop date without penalty.
Within 7 days of the workshop, no-shows or late arrivals
Bookings are non-refundable and cannot be transferred or rescheduled.
If you are unable to attend, you may nominate another person to attend in your place. Please contact me by email before the workshop with their details.
Workshop cancellation or unexpected events
Occasionally a workshop may need to be postponed due to severe weather, illness or another unexpected event outside my control.
If I need to postpone a workshop, participants will be contacted as soon as possible and offered an alternative workshop date.
If a suitable alternative date cannot be arranged, a refund will be provided.
