Cyanotype prints

Jill Welham: Cyanotype Prints

Cyanotype

Tulip Duet. Wet cyanotype

Cyanotype is an early photographic process creating images without a camera. Two chemicals, ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide are mixed together to create a photosensitive solution which is painted onto the surface of watercolour paper and left to dry. This process needs to be conducted away from UV light and once dry the paper must be kept in a light proof bag until it is used.

Photograms are created by placing a flat object such as leaves or flowers onto the surface of the treated paper, a piece of glass over the top keeps it in position. The paper is then exposed to ultraviolet light, either the sun or a UV light. When using the sun, as Jill does, exposure times vary depending on the strength of the sun, time of day, weather, time of year and the object being imaged.

Recently Jill has been creating unique prints using wet cyanotype, a modified version of the 19th century photographic printing process, introducing moisture, in a variety of ways, onto the treated paper before exposure. The chemical reaction produces interesting fluid patterns and colours not normally present in a traditional cyanotype print. The resulting pieces are unique and present botanical prints in a different and painterly manner. Each piece is created with plants and flowers exposed using only the North Yorkshire sun.