Experiments in wet cyanotype - part 44

More wet cyanotype antics from back in September, as I continued to explore my new environment and break in my new studio space. The subject in these first two, however, is an old friend. Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, was the subject of the first cyanotype print I ever made, back in 2002. I turned it into an art quilt that I am as happy with today as the day I finished it. It's bordered in Mysore silks. 

One of the lovely things about this plant is the beautiful color that the berries give off. You can see it starting to spread as this print was exposing under glass in full sunlight. Unfortunately, the color is fugitive, so I appreciate its fleeting glory.

I also did a few prints from a peony plant  that came with the landscaping.

Here are the exposed, unrinsed prints.

These give me a thrill every time, both for their dark beauty and for the preview of the final prints.

That lovely green color is from the unexposed cyanotype chemicals and will rinse out.

Here are the finished prints.

Lots of fun swirly stuff happening here.

These will look great in their ultimate form with stitched leaf veining.

If you are new here, I've been working with cyanotype since 2002, and with the wet cyanotype process since the summer of 2017. All the wet cyan posts, of which this is number 44, where I document my experiments in detail, are available in reverse chronological order by clicking the "Wet Cyanotype" tab in the header bar, or by going here.

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Experiments in wet cyanotype - part 43

I'm catching up with posting about the wet cyanotype prints I made this fall. I had some good printmaking  sessions, figuring out how to arrange things in my new studio, and exploring my immediate environment.

This batch of prints was done mid-September, on cotton sateen that I treated with the cyanotype chemicals. At top are some hydrangea leaves, followed by a peony stem.

After laying leaves on the treated fabric, I sprayed them with water, covered them with glass, and set the out to expose in direct sunlight for about 6 hours. I didn't use any other chemicals or colors on them this time around. Above and below are some burdock leaves.

Here is a sprig of milkweed. Ordinarily I would not disturb milkweed, as it's an important plant for insect life, but this one was growing up in a neglected part of the garden, and had to go so I could clean up some shrubbery.

Here are the prints after exposure but before being rinsed. The more tender parts of the hydrangea let some light through in the long, bright exposure.

I've learned from experience that those lovely greenish tones will disappear with the rinse-out, so it's good to capture them in this stage.

The burdock leaves have a nice halo effect going on.

On the milkweed print, I got the ephemeral and highly desirable aurora effect.

Here are the finished prints. Nothing too exotic, but good solid interesting images.

The halos held up in the burdock prints.

The milkweed print is quite beautiful and fully justifies sacrificing the plant.

If you are new here, I've been working with cyanotype since 2002, and with the wet cyanotype process since the summer of 2017. All the wet cyan posts, of which this is number 43, where I document my experiments in detail, are available in reverse chronological order by clicking the "Wet Cyanotype" tab in the header bar, or by going here.

And a reminder that you can also follow along on your social media of choice:
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Experiments in wet cyanotype - part 42

I am approaching the place where I can be a working artist again. The bulk of the moving/setting up the house/finding new providers stuff is under control. The studio is very close to being entirely functional. I am doing bits of handwork I had set up previously, but am starting to entertain ideas about new work.
In that spirit, I did a quick batch of wet cyanotype prints, the first since dismantling the studio in early June. I clipped bits of foliage that were close at hand in my new yard and garden and used them for prints. Above is some wild grape, aka fox grape, and below is a bit of virginia creeper.

I didn't try anything fancy with extra chemicals or colors here, they are just straight up wet cyan prints, put out on a sunny September day and left for about 5 hours. Below are a few more fox grape panels.

I am a bit rusty and may have added a bit too much moisture to some of these, but I am viewing them as simply practice pieces, to test out my new environment. Here are the prints after exposure and before rinsing.

I've got a bit of that coveted orange fire on some of these.

Here they are rinsed, dried, and finished.

I'm happy with the results.

I've already treated more fabric in anticipation of more prints.

I unavoidably missed a good bit of the summer printmaking season, but September and October still offer lots of opportunities.

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Works in Drawing on the Susquehanna

In Dreams I Found Utopia

 I am thrilled to announce that two of my Susquehanna River works, In Dreams I Found Utopia and 52 Ways to Look at the River, are included in the upcoming exhibit Drawing on the Susquehanna.

In Dreams I Found Utopia, detail

 The exhibit will open on April 18th, 2020 at the Lore Degenstein Gallery at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA, and run through May 13th.

52 Ways to Look at the River

 This exhibition examines the portrayal of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries as seen through the eyes of American artists over three centuries. It includes engravings and lithographs—as featured in journals, books and periodicals throughout the time period—as well as a selection of original paintings, drawings and prints depicting the river up to the present day.

52 Ways to Look at the River, detail 1

Rob Evans, artist, curator, and fellow Susquehanna River enthusiast, has put together this exhibit. He's spent years sourcing and acquiring rare historical artworks for this project. I had the opportunity to view some of them and they are truly amazing. Combining them with contemporary works is sure to make for a very dynamic and compelling visual experience.

52 Ways to Look at the River, detail 2

I plan on being at the opening next spring, and will update with further information as it becomes available.

Experiments in wet cyanotype - part 41

It's been a while! My printmaking practice was put on hold while I moved myself and my studio across Pennsylvania to the Pittsburgh suburbs. While gearing up to make some new wet cyanotype prints, I found a batch I made in June, just before dismantling the studio and packing it up, that I never documented. So I am doing so now.

First up was a big print, 20 some inches by 30 some inches. I had always been very protective of my Rodgersia aesculifolia, fingerleaf rodgersia, as I was growing it in less than ideal conditions. As much as I admired its large leaves, a weakness of mine, I didn't want to set it back by taking a cutting for printing. But it was obviously time for that ship to set sail, so I treated a piece of cotton sateen, added perennial favorites hosta 'August moon' and Japanese anemone leave, and gave it a go.

I also did a hosta and wood poppy print, and some plume poppy leaves.

 I have worked with these plants repeatedly for many years and wanted to get in one last print of them, although it was a rather rushed and slapdash affair.

Here are the prints after exposure but before rinsing. Lots of good fireworks effects on the large one.

I had perhaps a bit too much moisture in some of the rest but they are still worth adding to inventory and working with at some time.

Looks like they are melting! Which is appropriate as I was melting down a bit at that point.

Here are the finished prints.

I had some nervous energy late one night and went at the big one with a white pen and some textile paints and enhanced it. I took it in to be framed by my wonderful framer, Jenny at State of the Art who did a great job with a quick turnaround time. And now I have it installed in the place of pride above my new mantle. I rarely make art specifically for myself so this felt a bit transgressive and wonderful and I am enjoying it very much. I forgot to photograph before framing so please enjoy this image complete with reflections.

Here are the rest of the prints from that batch.

They are closing out a chapter in my creative efforts but a new chapter is starting up and I'm excited to see what comes out of it.

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