Guided by Dianne Longley (Agave Studio) this workshop will explore how to create cyanotype prints using plants and found elements.

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. The process uses two chemicals: ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide which are combined and applied to paper in subdued light and let dry. Cyanotypes can be made using plants, textures and fabrics placed directly on the sensitized paper surface and exposed to UV light (sunlight or UV unit). A collage of elements is possible.

Please bring to the workshop small plants, weeds and leaves, flattened if possible. Also found elements such as lace or fabrics with an open weave, fly-screen materials that can be cut into shapes. You might combine natural and manufactured elements.

The paper size is 30 x 21 cm and the image size is 15 x 21 cm so you can make an arrangement of your plants/collage elements on the paper surface in a contact frame. We can expose in sunlight or a UV unit. The cyanotypes are then washed out in water and dried. You can make 6-8 cyanotypes during the workshop.

Materials fee: $20 paid at the workshop.