Oh, I had such a nice time today, in my favorite place (the sunshine), layering my favorite things together (plants and fabric) and having it result in my favorite colour (any hue of blue).
What a beautiful day!
I first learned of cyanotype by following a ‘suggested pin’ (Pinterest sends me all things blue) that lead me to this wonderful photographic technique which dates back to the 1800s. From what I understand, we still use the exact same materials and methods as they did back then!
I immediately ordered the two bottles of chemicals (I guess that’s what they are — they aren’t scary or smelly, though) and then…I didn’t quite know what to do until I noticed that my silversmithing jewelry teacher (learning all the things) also taught a cyanotype course.
(linking to stuff in this paragraph. I may get a few cents or a longer membership, I don’t actually know; I’m really only linking so you’ll know where to find these things, too!)
I picked the fern fronds out of the woods next to our house. They’re native Gulf Coast plants, found in our forests, among the live oaks and pine trees.
We’re having a very rare mostly cloudy day here on the Gulf Coast, so though I clipped plants around the yard and in the woods to make more cyanotypes, I will have to create those tomorrow, when our lovely sun reappears. Coastal weather is unable to be forecast – but we are always assured of sunshine at some point in the day, and that’s when I worked on these ferns!
I’ll share more after I make them! I love this colour so much, I want to plaster my walls with cyanotypes.
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