Creating Cyanotypes

Cyanotyping—How to Get the Blues!

Cyanotypes are one of the earliest photographic techniques, invented in 1842. They were used in the first book published with photographs (botanist Anna Atkins,1843) when each one had to be exposed in the sun. Today they are often treated as an art form, and that’s what we’ll do in this workshop. Each participant will learn about the science and history of this technique, and will have the opportunity to make some examples to take home. Cyanotypes are a form of what photographers call “contact printing” meaning that we’ll lay objects directly on treated papers and then expose them in the sun. I’ll have some dried, pressed leaves, a couple of large-scale negatives, and pieces of lace to use, but bring your own—the flatter the better! Ideas: lace, doilies, stencils, a filigree earring, buttons.

Instructor Bio: Diane Sidener trained as a folklorist but has always made art, and currently cyanotypes on both fabric and paper. With a love of nature and color, she works primarily with leaves, combining cyanotypes on fabric with colorful patterned fabrics to create quilts and pillows, or cyanotypes on paper with colorful art papers, creating matted and framed works, cards, and collages.

This free event will take place at Wyck Historic House, Garden, and Farm (6026 Germantown Avenue, Germantown PA 19144) in the Ed Shed.

Street parking is available on Walnut Lane (free) or Germantown Avenue (metered). Contact info@wyck.org with questions or to be put on a waitlist.