Last week, 8th grade students were introduced to the process of transferring photographs from a printed copy onto watercolor paper. Today, students began transferring photos onto light muslin cloth that can be sewn onto tote-bags, t-shirts, pillows, and more; all skill-building techniques in preparation for the spring repurposed fashion show.
Students used magazine images, fabric, a folding tool, and gel medium (non-toxic) to transfer pristine photos into grainy reinterpretations of the original. Unlike the watercolor paper, the fabric did not need to be presoaked and the magazine images did not require a lot of rubbing to transfer the image, but still necessitated a lot of patience because the thin magazine paper could tear. Unlike the colorful and detailed transfers of inkjet images onto watercolor paper, the magazine images on the fabric were hazy and cloudy. Students and I discovered that a little light brought the image out distinctly. Next week students will transfer inkjet images on fabric to see if the results will be clearer and brighter than the magazine print transfers.