Capture the delicate beauty of plants using one of photography’s oldest and most enchanting processes: cyanotype printing. Join ecologist and artist Erica for a hands-on workshop where we’ll transform foraged flowers, leaves, and other botanical materials into stunning cyan-blue prints.
Cyanotype, also known as “sun printing,” is a 19th-century photographic technique that creates distinctive Prussian blue images through a simple chemical reaction with UV light. We’ll explore this historical process while celebrating the intricate forms of native and naturalized plants.
During this workshop, you’ll learn to:
- Identify and gather suitable botanical materials for printing
- Prepare cyanotype-sensitized paper or fabric
- Compose botanical arrangements that showcase plant architecture and detail
- Expose your prints using sunlight
- Process and fix your finished cyanotypes
Each participant will create multiple prints to take home, preserving the ephemeral beauty of flowers and foliage in permanent form. Whether you’re drawn to the delicate venation of leaves, the geometry of seed heads, or the graceful curves of grasses, you’ll discover how light and chemistry can reveal the hidden artistry in plants.
No prior photography or printmaking experience necessary, just an appreciation for the natural world and curiosity about creative processes! Suitable for all ages!