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My final semester as a fine art student I devised a darkroom technique for brushing or splattering developer onto the photographic paper. The result looks like something straight out of photoshop, but it is completely analogue. It’s magical. ✨
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I’ve often bemoaned my lack of darkroom facilities to continue exploring this technique.
Enter cyanotype (sometimes called sun printing.)
Mom and I had a play a few years ago. We used pretreated paper which is a great entry into cyanotype.
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<img src="http://sarahshottsblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/46824-img_6592.jpeg" alt="(This piece is Mom’s. The gingko leaves make such a nice bold silhouette.)" width="1080" height="681" style="display:block;object-fit: cover;width: 100%;height: 100%;object-position: 50% 50%" loading="lazy">
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<div class="image-caption"><p class="">(This piece is Mom’s. The gingko leaves make such a nice bold silhouette.)</p></div>
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When I learned you could mix up a solution to make any paper / fabric / pottery light sensitive I knew I had to try. I eventually ordered the supplies, but was so busy editing the Kindle Curiosity podcast I never got to it.
When Olivia invited me to participate in her “I am an artist” collab I knew the time was right! (After all I had been hoarding the supplies for 3-4 years.) I did a few tests and ultimately ended up applying the solution with a brush in the same way I used to do in the darkroom. The upside to cyanotype is you don’t need a darkroom! You expose the image with sunlight!
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You can read more about my inspiration for this piece here. Olivia featured a whole series of artists who each put their own stamp on her interactive print. If you want to make your own you can find them stocked in her Etsy store.
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I’m so excited to see where this will lead! Thanks for the prompt Olivia. 💙
Sarah Shotts
@sarahshotts