I have been a photographic artist and educator for 45 years. I am now looking back at years of wonderful students that enriched my life, but also looking forward to "Me" time to continue my work in mordançage, carbon printing and all things that feel like watery abstractions. Going forward I am open to lecturing, exhibiting and playing creatively. Maybe I have one more book in my heart.

I've gone from teaching on six continents 20-30 weeks a year to about 6 weeks in 2023, my final season. I have been blessed with the many connections I have made. I can't give it up entirely, but I am retiring from workshops with occasional retreats or photographic tours still in the future. Inquire. There is something so special about the group experience of sharing creatively with others, especially with alumni, when you can be away from it all in a special place. ( I will always entertain offers in exotic locations:)

Private workshops at my Oakland studio for one or two people on mordançage can be scheduled for 2-3 days. You will leave with everything I know and have spent more than 30 years perfecting. Please inquire about pricing and possibilities eopalenik@mac.com

AUGUST 4-8 sold out but 18-22 still available. Inauguration of Maine Media Workshops new darkroom. I'm coming out of retirement. Details here

This course is an exploration into the mordançage process, and will cover the materials, techniques, and methods for successful practice. Through this process, students will be encouraged to finesse the physicality of the print and to consider experimentation as a fundamental role to adding to their working knowledge.

Beginning with a brief history of the mordançage process, instructor Elizabeth Opalenik will introduce students to the work of Denis Brihat and Jean-Pierre Sudre, the French photographers that created the 1960 formula used today. As her mentor and friend for over 15 years, Elizabeth learned the process directly from this master in his Provence atelier in 1991. Sharing the works of other artists who have worked in mordançage will add valuable insight and possible directions for making the process a part of your own creative voice. Nothing beats seeing an original mordançage piece!

Elizabeth will demonstrate safe chemistry mixing and understanding the test strips to discover proper exposures for negatives or photograms. The class will go on location to make negatives, gather materials for photograms, and will also learn about preparing digital negatives for mordançage images. Darkroom days will be spent testing papers and redeveloper combinations, experimenting with oxidation and toners to alter color, and deciding to save or not-to-save the veils. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Veiling is Elizabeth’s contribution to mordançage and is where she is considered the master. Mordançage, with intent, takes time to master. Students will gain valuable knowledge on how to control the veils that are anchored to the highlights. Discussions will focus on possibilities and inspiration for the final image including the possibility of hand painting. By the end of the workshop, students will have a safe working knowledge of the process, with a good foundation into the techniques for their darkroom. Students will be encouraged to make work with intent and integrity to the process.

https://santafeworkshops.com/workshop/the-intimate-image/