Creative Explorations
I've been doing something a little different lately. I'm not sure where it will go or what will happen next, but for me, part of being an artist means trying new things and taking some risks now and again.
Part of the new curriculum for the intermediate darkroom photography course that I teach at Sierra College is an alternative process called cyanotyping. I have less experience with this process than with traditional darkroom work, so I wanted to practice it some more while the lab is available during the summer months.
Cyanotypes are also sometimes called blue prints or sun prints, and result in a blue hued monochromatic image like this one. I have been creating and printing from digital negatives, coating watercolor paper with the light sensitive chemicals and exposing the prints in a UV light box. The prints are then processed in water and then a diluted hydrogen peroxide bath, washed in more water and dried.
Of course, things have not gone quite as smoothly as planned and I struggled with some technical difficulties. In the end, with some help troubleshooting, I got the desired results and it has helped me hone my skills. I always tell my students that we learn the most when things go "wrong" and I had to tell myself the same these past couple weeks!
Part of what I have been experimenting with is toning the cyanotypes in tea, which then turns the blue tones into purplish or brown tones, which can be just as lovely as the blue tones and exciting to see as it slowly changes. Toning has even helped rescue some of the prints that were not looking so good after they dried.
The next step in the experimental process is likely going to include some layering with other processes, or maybe some painting. I'm not really sure yet what I will do next or even when I will continue to experiment but I am enjoying creating some new imagery already.
I also created a video and posted it on YouTube so that you can see some of the fun as it was happening and several of the prints at the end of the video.