The Automatic Parsemage Technique

Join us for a livestream workshop with artist-researcher Chantal Powell, and step into the world of parsemage – a Surrealist automatic technique that turns chance and chalk dust into a window onto the unconscious.

Parsemage is an automatic technique in which dust from charcoal or chalk is scattered on the surface of water and then imprinted to paper, offering a window into the unconscious. Developed by British Surrealist Ithell Colquhoun, the method was designed to bypass conscious thinking altogether, allowing image and meaning to surface unplanned. It's this direct, hands-on route into the unconscious – no drawing skill required – that makes parsemage such a compelling entry point for anyone curious about where their own creativity really comes from.

What to expect

In this workshop, we will work with parsemage to explore the role of the unconscious in the creative process, learning intuitive ways of image-making that you can carry forward into your own artwork. The format is practical and hands-on throughout, guiding you step by step through the technique itself before opening into reflection and discussion on what emerges.

This online workshop Includes:

• An introduction to parsemage and its origins in Colquhoun's Surrealist practice
• Guided, practical demonstration of the technique itself
• Space to create your own parsemage works
• Discussion and reflection on the images that surface
• Intuitive image-making approaches to bring into your ongoing creative practice

Who is this workshop for?

Whether you consider yourself an artist, a spiritual seeker, or simply curious, this workshop is open to all. No prior artistic experience is needed — only a willingness to let go of conscious control and see what comes through.

Book now to discover the parsemage technique for yourself, and open a window onto your own unconscious.

Meet your tutor, Chantal Powell

Chantal Powell is an artist-researcher with a PhD in psychology, whose work is rooted in Jungian thought, alchemy and symbolic imagination. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, including at The College of Psychic Studies, La Boulangerie in Paris, and The Lightbox Museum in Woking, with a solo exhibition opening at MIRROR, Arts University Plymouth, in October 2026. Alongside her studio practice, Chantal is the founder of the Hogchester Arts residency programme and of The Red Book Club, an international Jungian book club and speaker series. 

You will need

Please gather the following materials and have your workspace fully set up before the session begins. We will begin working with water and charcoal early in the session, so it is important that everything is ready to go at the start time:

• Heavyweight paper (for example, watercolour paper). The paper must be able to withstand full water saturation without disintegrating
• Charcoal stick or charcoal powder. Coloured chalks are optional
• Sandpaper or a Stanley knife (only needed if you are using a charcoal stick and need to create powder)
• Rectangular water container (such as a large casserole dish or plastic storage crate) that is larger than your sheet of paper. Fill this container with several inches of water before the session
• Table covering (newsprint, old towels or a plastic sheet) to place wet works on
• Cotton earbuds / Q-tips
• Watercolours and a brush

Workspace set-up

• Please prepare a clear working table near a sink if possible.
• Have your water container filled and ready.
• Cover your table surface to protect it from water and charcoal.
• Prepare a separate flat drying area where your wet paper can rest undisturbed.
• Wear old clothing or an apron.

Live online with replay

This event will be recorded. You will find the recording link in your College Account within two working days from the event - an email will alert you when it is ready. This recording will be available for replay for three months following the event. Please see our terms for more information.