Printing of Fabric and Silk: A Botanical Monoprint Workshop with Celeste Pfau
Sunday, September 20 from 10am - 5pm (optional open studio until 6:30pm)
Price: $140 (Includes guidance, 1–2 silk scarves, archival paper, inks, and refreshments). A $ 25 discount is available to PWL Members ($115 total).
Workshop description:
Fine artist, printmaker, and educator Celeste Amparo Pfau announces an intensive, one-day Botanical Monoprint Workshop on fabric taking place on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM at Amparo Creative House. This immersive session offers technical instruction in botanical printmaking at her personal studio in the Roebuck Springs neighborhood of Birmingham. Please note the studio is located on the second floor and currently does not have elevator access. Following the guided workshop, participants are invited to an optional open studio session from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM to continue working freely on the etching press.
Designed for beginners and experienced artists alike, the workshop immerses participants in the art of botanical printmaking using a manually operated etching press and tabletop Gelli plates. Students will work directly with ethically gathered plant material, fluid oil based and water-based inks, archival paper, and natural silk textiles to create wearable art and gallery-quality prints.
The workshop commences with live studio demonstrations showcasing the application of oil-based and specialized inks for botanical monoprinting process. Participants will receive guided, group and one-on-one technical instruction on:
The mechanics and safe operation of a professional etching press.
Step-by-step composition, color layering, and ghost printing methods.
Direct transfer techniques using organic botanical specimens, stencils, and found textures.
Substrate exploration across delicate silk habotai fabrics and various printmaking papers.
Each participant will complete the day with 1 to 2 finished silk scarves, several paper botanical prints, and dedicated studio time extending to 6:30 PM for continued printing. Light refreshments and drinks will be provided by the host studio. Celeste requests participants help with the cleanup process at the end of the workshop.
What to bring:
Clothes you don’t mind getting ink on
participants are encouraged to bring their own dry or fresh botanical clippings
a packed lunch for the break at 12:00-12:30
All printmaking supplies (silk scarves, archival paper, inks, botanical specimens) and light refreshments/drinks will be provided.
About the Instructor:
Celeste Amparo Pfauis a professional fine artist, printmaker, and educator based in Birmingham, Alabama, where she established her studio Amparo Creative House. Her multidisciplinary work explores the delicate ecological relationship between humanity and the natural environment, with a particular focus on sustainable practices and the diverse flora of the Alabama region. Through botanical monoprinting, sculpture, installation, and film, Pfau employs ethically sourced plant material and natural pigments to forge visual connections between regional communities and their local landscapes. Currently serving as a faculty member at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and recognized as an Alabama Triennial artist at AEIVA in 2025, she maintains an active studio practice alongside her public art projects and immersive community workshops.
https://www.amparocreativehouse.com/| MONOGRAPH, Making Environmental Art Meet the Artist Celeste Amparo Pfau |Composition of Decomposition
Venue:
Amparo Creative House,609 Ridge Top Circle, Birmingham, AL 35206. Note: The studio is located on the second floor; currently, no elevator access is available.
This workshop will NOT take place at PaperWorkers Local!
Registration Process:
Due to the hands-on nature of the session, registration is capped at 8 participants. Accepted payment methods include cash, or check, which will be paid at the start of the class, or Venmo. Please fill out the form below to register.