We are delighted to welcome our friend Martyn Grimmer to teach Gum Bichromate here at Negative Thinking HQ. We are admirers of Martyn’s artistry as well as his ability and desire to share his craftsmanship. Running over Saturday and Sunday, Martyn will teach you the methods of Gum Bichromate and all of the wonderful ways to play with the process.

Although employed largely by Pictorialist photographers between the 1890s and the 1930s, gum printing was invented in the 1850s by a Scotsman called Mungo Ponton. To make a print, a piece of sized paper is brushed with sensitized gum arabic mixed with pigment, then exposed to light through a negative in direct contact, hardening the gum. Developing in warm water removes unexposed portions while also softening the gum, allowing it to be manipulated; printing can be repeated multiple times with different strengths of pigment to achieve a longer tonal range. The resulting prints are surprisingly painterly, and totally permanent.

Initially, this process appears relatively simple and straightforward, yet it is rife with variables, unpredictability, and yet paradoxically, it can be quite addictive. It exists in a bubble of mid nineteenth century time, and will not be rushed. It shouldn’t be attempted if you are in a bad mood or stressed.  It is labor intensive; often, each print can take days to make. This unpredictably and lack of control is, oddly enough, part of its charm and why the end result is something that will make you want to revisit this technique time and time again.

This workshop runs for 2 consecutive weekend days 10am - 4pm at NTHQ in Willway Yard. All bookings must be made at least 7 days prior to the start of the weekend in order for us to prepare materials needed, so please don’t hesitate to book!