How to Make Artful Cyanotypes

While in isolation at home I have been working on a personal project creating cyanotypes, and I thought you too might like to experiment with them also.

Cyanotypes are a very old and traditional photographic form of printing which came about in the 1800s.

I love their inky indigo blues and how natural they are, as you need to work with sunlight to expose them. They really are completely handmade images, using the sun, paper and an object sandwiched in between.

What I probably love the most about cyanotypes is that they are playful and completely unpredictable. It’s really lovely to create without the pressure of always getting something ‘perfect’ or ‘right’. I find it’s more beautiful this way. I have just added a handful of Cyanotype Kits to my shop to make it really easy for you to access and have a go. This is a great project to do with kids!

Now that I have a little more stillness and calm within my day I decided to start a project documenting what’s around me during ‘The Great Lockdown of 2020’ using cyanotypes as a medium.

In the mornings I go on early walks along the beach and collect seabird feathers. All different shapes and sizes, even those scrungy ones that aren’t that pretty (I find they work the best for this project).

Natural objects which work well for cyanotypes are ones which are fairly flat, like feathers, interesting leaves and delicate ferns, I have even been pressing and drying seaweed. Just rememeber when collecting bits and pieces for your cyanotypes you need the light to come through and expose the shape.

Now you need to prepare your paper. What you will need is some nice heavy weight watercolour paper, which you will be making into light sensitive paper. Watercolour paper from any art supply store will work well. Either in a pad or by the sheet.

Just make sure you tear your paper down to size using a ruler or an edge of a table, never scissors. It’s so artful to see the raw edge of paper. I find 6×8″ an easy size to start off with, then the more experienced you become you can use larger sheets of paper.

You will also need your Cyanotype Kit of chemistry to make all the magic happen. They come with instructions, the chemistry and a syringe, so all you need to do is add one part of each chemical into an old glass jar. Too easy.

I use an empty photo frame as my ‘press’, using the glass and the backing board. Just make sure your paper will fit in nicely under the glass.

Last step is painting your watercolour paper with the chemistry. You can either use a brush or sponge to do this. I do this in the laundry on the washing machine, which I coat in a garbage bag, as it can be messy, especially as you need to paint the paper in subdued light. Pro Tip: wear old clothes :)

I usually prepare the paper on an overcast day or in the evening with the door only just open. Then leave your pieces of paper out to dry in the dark until they are bone dry. Won’t take long. Once dry place the paper in the black garbage bag and double it over so no light can get in.

Now you are set to rock and roll. Make sure it’s a sunny day. I grab my feathers or whatever I’m planning on exposing and take the photo frame and glass and head to the laundry to assemble everything.

Again, in subdued light I place one piece of paper (light sensitive side up) on the backing board of the photo frame, then place the feathers in a pretty manner and then add the glass on top to weigh it all down.

Head outside and place it in the full sun and wait about 10 mins. You will see the paper change colour from a yellow colour, through to blue, then to a grey dirty white colour.

Once you remove your object from the paper you will see the negative imprint it has left behind and it will look rather iridescent. Immediately place the paper in a water bath and wash for 15 minutes then place somewhere flat to dry.

This is a really fascinating time to watch the print develop underwater, as the print is still developing and working with the water to reveal itself.

I really love working with the feathers, though you can use so many different objects and experiment with their placement on the light sensitive paper.

I find even some of my mistakes are usually the ones I like the best. Where I have missed a bit of paper while painting the chemistry on, or my paper wasn’t bone dry when I used it (impatient).

All those little nuances are part of the story behind creating these handmade prints and they have merit.

It’s strangely a really beautiful and calm process to do, especially right now. Making something with your hands and collecting natural objects, and then using the sunlight to create something of beauty. Something to remember these days by.