Wood Block Printing and Turkish Textile Designs Workshop

Description

Duration: 2 hours
Location: Sultanahmet / ISTANBUL
Lesson Teachings: available in English and Turkish

Overview :

Traditional Turkish Wood Block Printing. Woodblock printing on textiles is the process of printing patterns on textiles, usually of linen, cotton or silk, means of incised wooden blocks. It is the earliest, simplest and slowest of all methods of textile printing. Block printing hand is a slow process. It is, however, capable of yielding highly artistic results, some of which are unobtainable any other method.

This is the traditional method used for hand made printing on textiles in the Ottoman Empire and early periods and this art is protected Unesco as world heritage. Yazma’ is the name given to the application of designs to textiles either directly with a brush called “kalem”, or using a wooden mold carved in relief. The major centers for this art in the Ottoman period were Amasra, Bartin, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Kastamonu, Tokat, Yozgat and Zile. The specimens from Istanbul rose to prominence with its hand-painted ‘Kandilli’ textiles, highly prized for their artistry, in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

What is Included :

* In our lessons, we can teach beginner & advanced level Professional Artists.
* All materials and tools needed for the workshop.
* In the end of the workshop you will have a finished printed art works
* Workshop Area, Aprons & Gloves.
* Turkish Tea & Water.

Additional Information :

For the carving we can use a sort of foam for the beginers bcs carving on wood requires some technique and practie to learn. If you want to carve on wood, you are also welcome.. You can use our masters carved wood blocks to create your own designs.

Here is our adres : https://www.lesartsturcs.com/contact-us/

Google Maps : https://goo.gl/maps/uXuyRmELZsx

Bazaar Turkey – Les Arts Turcs
Alemdar Mh. Incili Cavus Sk.
No: 19 Floor : 3 (Behind The Underground Cistern) Sultanahmet 34110
Istanbul, Turkey

Contact = +905442201022 ( Mr. Alp )

Review of Textile Workshop – Carol Stokes / 31.03.2024

This workshop with Master textile designer and teacher Tahsin Istengel was outstanding!  Mr Tahsin has a delightful atelier filled to the rafters with textile treasures and tools, and the workshop takes place in a covered space bordering a beautiful courtyard. It began with an overview of Turkish textile history with an emphasis on the role of women and how they expressed themselves through textile art. I was then shown an amazing array of antique block print stamps along with some blocks Mr Tahsin had designed and made. I made sample prints to in order to choose designs for side and bottom borders and main area and also chose the colour of my dye. Under Mr Tahsin’s expert guidance I was actually able to design and print my own fabric which I will make into a tunic (I bought 2m of fabric at the bazaar the previous day but fabric is provided).

We made a mini mock-up first and Mr Tahsin advised on technique, placement and density of design and I was absolutely thrilled with the outcome.  While the fabric was drying we sipped tea and chatted. I was able to purchase a gorgeous dress that had been printed and designed by Mr Tahsin (make sure you ask to see his work and bring cash for any purchase you might make). I left with gifts of a tote bag (which I stamped with a design of a Hittite goddess) and a handmade notebook and bookmark.

I have to mention Les Arts Turcs, a wonderful local cultural organization that offers this and other workshops. Coordinator Alp Akhasin is passionate about Turkish art and culture. He generously stayed through most of the workshop to facilitate translation and communication.

This was in a completely different league from other textile workshops I’ve taken around the world, where one usually stamps a simple design on a small square. I actually emerged with a wearable garment of great beauty crafted under the tutelage of a true artist and textile master and gracious and generous teacher. It is an experience I am so grateful for and will never forget.

History of Wood Works & Wood Block Printing in Turkey