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sbm321

Cyanotype, anyone?

last year

I mentioned this in another thread and I think mtn asked for details. I have done cyanotype printing in two different workshops. You can google, but basically it entails coating paper (or fabric) with a light-sensitive solution (which turns blue), adding something like leaves or pressed flowers or a reversed photo negative, covering with a plexiglass sheet and leaving it in the sun to process. The recent workshop also involved adding a layer of encaustic wax, which was new to me and very cool but I need more practice — and a bunch of supplies if I want to continue that part on my own.


Since we have been at the beach, I have taken over most of the kitchen, a guest room, and the back patio playing around with this. It can be a little frustrating because I don’t always know what is going to work. But also is relatively easy and not expensive and fun to experiment with different items and papers. Here are some of the things I’ve made. Today we don’t expect to see the sun, but tomorrow I’m going to try a t-shirt.


The first 6 are from the class.


From a photo. I added a little color to the flower but I don’t have a photo. I love how it turned out.


This was ”toned” after printing in a green tea bath. (which turns kind of purply). Done on a very delicate paper, which tore a bit.


From a photo. The yellow is added pastel after the wax.


Added colored pencil pre-wax, then collaged stamps during waxing.


Added colored pencil pre-wax, and decoupaged edges with paper cut from magazine.


Collaged halves of two different prints, added washi tape. Gold edges are from pan pastel after wax.


Photo, added a bit of colored pencil in some of the plants and the pots, and added modpodge instead of wax. Delicate paper gets a bit wrinkly but I don’t mind it here.


Decoupaged onto a kraft paper box.


And my favorite so far! Cut open the bottom of a tea bag to remove the tea. The paper took the dye really well. I tried a round tea bag too but that was too textured to get a good print. I yanked these little weeds out of the pavement in a parking lot yesterday.


Here’s one sitting in a toner made from coffee. The coffee didn’t do too much.


Featured Answer
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Sarah Richardson did a series of these prints when she was renovating Haus Heidi in Whistler, BC, but I like yours better. She put hers in a small bedroom.

    I like your print of the fern with the washi tape best - it is really stunning!

    Comments (28)

    • last year

      Sue - those are definitely eye-catching - love the teabag!

      I bought sun-sensitive paper for my grand daughters last month to give them a little summer craft project. DDIL like it so much she ordered more for an end of school party.

      Sueb20 thanked maire_cate
    • last year

      those are so cool! Thx for explaining. I love the first one too. Where will you display them? Maybe some can go in the laundry room where you always meant to hang something over the washer?

      Sueb20 thanked mtnrdredux_gw

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    • last year

      Those are so cool, Sueb, and very unique.

      Sueb20 thanked OutsidePlaying
    • last year

      Wonderfully creative - love the little added somethings (stamps, washi, color) and how you placed them.


      Sueb20 thanked DLM2000-GW
    • last year

      WOW! Beautiful pieces of artwork!


      Yes, I've tried it. Just once, in Summer camp about 51 years ago. Yeah...the paper has been around that long.

      Sueb20 thanked nicole
    • last year

      They are all pretty small, so not suitable for a big nekkid wall. I can’t display all, but I did get frames for the half & half collage and the first flower print. (they are 8” square)


      Gave one (the cow) to DS and DDIL so will have to give one to DD and other DS. That one is only 4” square so if they don’t like it they can stick it on a shelf. Or in a drawer, haha.


      I will say this particular shade of blue is not my favorite, but it does work better at our beach house vs our real house. That’s one reason I like the photo prints, as they tend to come out less blue, toned down by the b&w photo I guess. The photos have to be high contrast, so it doesn’t work well with everything.


      You can tone with different teas and also turmeric — some people in class had really cool results with a turmeric bath, so I am going to try that.

    • last year

      PS making your own paper works a lot better than the pre-treated paper you can buy!

    • last year

      Wow! These are fantastic! I will have to Google this technique.

      Sueb20 thanked ilikefriday
    • last year

      I never heard of this. Its interesting and pretty, too.

      Sueb20 thanked dedtired
    • last year

      I always learn something new here. Thanks for sharing.

      Sueb20 thanked eld6161
    • last year

      I love them! I need to investigate. The choices you made and the results are beautiful.

      Sueb20 thanked Arapaho-Rd
    • last year

      These are very cool! I particularly like the fern collage print you framed.

      Sueb20 thanked czarinalex
    • last year

      Wow, these are FABULOUS!!! Can't decide which one I love the most. Such a great craft!

      Sueb20 thanked gigitn
    • last year

      Wow - I've never heard of this before. Very creative + simple - yet beautiful.

      Sueb20 thanked dani_m08
    • last year

      I love these!! I was going to take a free cyanotype demo class at my local art supply store but something else came up. I love the cow and the row of pots. Did you use pretreated paper or do it yourself? I just love that inky indigo/cyan combination.


      I just made my first batch of 60 cards with gel prints and framed a quartet for my wall. Getting the darn frames to line up was the hardest part of the endeavor.

      Sueb20 thanked Bunny
    • last year

      Really cool! I love the cow!

      Sueb20 thanked porkandham
    • last year

      I love these! Thanks for sharing.

      Sueb20 thanked texanjana
    • last year

      I've never done it, but have seen the project kits sold. The color and result in yours look better than what I would have expected from the kit photos. Sounds like fun, and I especially look forward to the t-shirt.

      Sueb20 thanked lascatx
    • last year

      Bunny, I treated the paper myself.

    • last year

      Sue, these are lovely! I think the blue color is fantastic and is a nice change from the nautical blue most people use (understandsbly) for coastal homes and themes. I also love everything you did, great work!

      Sueb20 thanked Kswl
    • last year

      You did a wonderful job -love them!

      I can’t decide which is my favorite the tea bag or row of plants in pots . Thanks for sharing .


      Sueb20 thanked Irish2
    • last year

      Very pretty results - and looks like fun 🙂

      Sueb20 thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
    • last year

      So pretty, Sue! I used to have some of the paper that turned in the sun for our three when they were children. I've never heard of this.

      Sueb20 thanked Allison0704
    • last year

      Lovely pieces. Thank you for the details, I have seen this type if work before but did not really know anything about the process. Now I want to see if anyone near me offers workshops, would love to give it a spin.

      Sueb20 thanked jill302
    • last year

      They look wonderful. My grandchildren made a couple last year for me. I'd love to try my hand at it.

      Sueb20 thanked orchidrain
    • last year

      So great Sue - I am particularly fond of the topiaries. I used to do B&W photography and spent countless hours in the dark room and then more hours playing around with photo coloring pencils. This feels so familiar...

      Sueb20 thanked rubyclaire
    • last year

      Really nice! The tea bag is wonderful!!!

      Sueb20 thanked party_music50
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