The cyanotype process is a way of portraying the subject using a light sensitive emulsion and developing the image by the light of the Sun.  The prints are sometimes referred to as sun prints or photograms.  It is a process that requires patience as the Tasmanian sun does not always perform on cue !

Here are a few pics of my cyanotype work that I have just put into our Bruny Island  “Imprint of Bruny” art exhibition.    The embossed wall hangings are titled “Imprint of Bruny”  – Beach walk, Paddock, Garden & Oyster Catcher.  They  are the result of my Bruny  walks on  Hansson’s beach & Highwood’s paddocks and garden.  They derive from found objects and plant specimens,  handmade papercuts & photographs from my walks.

To prevent cyanotypes from fading they should be kept out of direct sunlight.  If they do  happen to fade over time,  you just pop them into a dark cupboard for a while and, magically, the colour revitalises !

Filed under: Printmaking Tagged: cyanotype, sun prints ]]> http://josgreenroom.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/prussian-blue-cyanotypes/feed/ 5 josgreenroom Cyanotype wall hangings by Jo Sculthorp (Imprint of Bruny - Beach walk, Paddock, Garden & Oyster catcher) Cyanotype by Jo Sculthorp (Part of Imprint of Bruny - Oyster Catcher) cyanotype by Jo Sculthorp - Imprint of Bruny - Oyster Catcher DSC05741_wm Cyanotype - Part of "Imprint of Bruny - Oyster Catcher" Cyanotype by Jo Sculthorp - Imprint of Bruny - Beach walk Cyanotype by Jo Sculthorp - part of "Imprint of Bruny - Beach walk" DSC05705_wm Cyanotypte by Jo Sculthorp (Part of Imprint of Bruny - Beach walk) Cyanotype wall hangings by Jo Sculthorp (Imprint of Bruny - Beach walk, Paddock, Garden & Oyster catcher) DSC05746_wm Cyanotype by Jo Sculthorp - Imprint of Bruny - Garden DSC05719_wm DSC05718_wm Cyanotype by Jo Sculthorp (Part of Imprint of Bruny - Paddock) Cyanotype by Jo Sculthorp - Part of Imprint of Bruny - Oyster Catcher http://josgreenroom.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/new-studio-space/ http://josgreenroom.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/new-studio-space/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:23:37 +0000 Jo Sculthorp http://josgreenroom.wordpress.com/?p=910 ]]>

I have slowly been  setting  up my new studio space since the move & struggling with feeling comfortable and creative in the new space.   The space is  small, it’s a wierd “L” shape,   it doesn’t have much natural light, or view or ventilation !!   But…. I try to  make the most of it, remain positive about it and try to love it ‘warts n’ all’  & make the space work for me.    On the upside – it is solely my space, it has lots of nice shelving and I have good immediate access to undercover outside space with running water  !    I’m still setting up but it’s  at a workable stage now and I’ve started printmaking again.  I’ve also been lucky enough to borrow a piece of very important equipment for a printmaker –  A fabulous sturdy old brownbuilt paper drawer !   Hooray – no more rolling up my precious paper.   This will make such a difference to me and will make life on the ‘paper front’ so much easier.   Thanks April !  The space is coming together but I do miss my old Green Room.

Selenium (Se34):   I investigated the area of food science to formulate my image for Selenium.  Selenium plays a key role in the functioning of the human immune system and thyroid gland.  The trace element is also needed for successful reproduction.  We have naturally occurring selenium in our bodies and it is also available in a number of foods.  A selenium rich source of food is the Brazil nut.  I have portrayed this orbicular hard shelled fruit containing the triangular, wrinkled seeds known as Brazil nuts.

Indium (In 49):   The bottles in this print represent Indium supplements which are available in liquid or tablet form for human consumption.  There is great debate regarding Indium and human health.   In some circles it is hailed as a miracle dietary supplement with multiple claims of beneficial therapeutic results.  Scientific literature, however, does not support these testimonials.

Chromium (Cr 24):  I have depicted an audio cassette tape for the Chromium element.  Chromium dioxide or chromium(IV) oxide is a synthetic magnetic substance used in the manufacture of magnetic tape emulsion.  Chrome tape is considered by many to be the most perfect magnetic recording tape available.  This is due to the way in which the chromium dioxide crystals can be evenly and densely dispersed in the magnetic coating which leads to unparalleled low noise performance in audio cassette tapes.

(See my previous post “expressing chemistry through art”  for a bit more info regarding this printmaking project.   The complete periodic table of elements can be viewed on the RACI website.   Follow these links –  http://www.raci.org.au/raci-news/periodic-table-on-show-launch    &  http://www.raci.org.au/periodic-table-on-show)

During this hectic and unsettling time as we move house, I’ve managed to squeeze in a printmaking workshop to soothe my soul.    Last weekend  was spent “off Island”  in Hobart participating in a white ground etching workshop with Iona Johnson at Hunter Island Press.  A fabulous workshop and steep learning curve as always gleaned from teachings by Iona.   White ground etching (soap ground etching)  is a technique that can be use to create organic printed marks of varying tonal depth.   I have been trying to “loosen up” and become more painterly with my mark making and introduce tone to my work  so I think that this will be a method that I will experiment with and use frequently in my printmaking.  I can imagine  my usual prescise line drawings against energetic, spontaneous, organic, tonal backgrounds.   I am also drawn to this method  as it is less toxic than traditional etching using nitric acid.   We used copper plates as our substrates and white ground as the resist.  We also aquatinted our plates with spray paint and etched them with Edinburgh Etch which is a ferric chloride & citric acid solution.  The white ground resist is a combination of soap flakes, linseed oil, titinium white pigment and water.  The white ground breaks down during the etching process and creates irregular tones.   What a fascinating process with so many possible outcomes and huge scope for experimentation.    Thanks to Iona, Steph and John for another great HIP workshop.

 An interesting Web Link:  Article on White ground etching by Frank Cassara

(If you move you cursor over my photos, there is a brief description of each & you can click on them for a larger view)

I am going to miss the Green Room and I’m heading over there today to pack up the final few boxes. One of the positives is that it’s been a good opportunity to sort through the oodles of stuff that I’ve managed to squeeze into the  small space of the Green Room.   I’ll continue this blog as Jo’s Green Room from the walls of the new “L shaped, white room”.    I am anxious to get it set up as soon as possible and get on with some white ground etching.

How lucky I am to call Bruny Island “home”.  It is such a privilege to be surrounded by the astonishing natural beauty of Bruny land and seascapes.  My Bruny Alphabet- a series of 25 lino prints is a celebration of the diverse and magnificent flora, fauna and marine life that also inhabit this little island at the bottom of the world.

A – Abalone, B – Brown tree frog, C – Chiton,  D – Dragonfly, E – Echidna, F – Forty Spotted Pardalote, G – Geese (the two white geese on the way to the ferry! ), H – Hobart Brown Butterfly, I – Isoodon Obesulus (Southern Brown Bandcoot),  J – Jack Jumper, K- Kelp gulls, L – Lissotes Menaclas (Mount Mangana Stag Beetle), M – Masked Owl, N – Nodding Greenhood Orchid, O – Oyster Catcher, P – Possum, Q – Quoll, R - Rabbit, S – Swift Parrot, T – Tasmanian Waratah, U – Urchin, V- Velvet Seastar, W – White Wallaby, X – Xanthorrehoea australis (grasstree), Y – Yellow sundial shell, Z – Zoothera Lunalata (Bassian Thrush)    

Each lino print is 15cm x 15cm, printed in rich black lithographic ink (ie: black with lots of blue mixed in to soften it) and printed with my etching press onto Canson Edition  250gsm, Antique white paper.

(You can click on the images below and view them in a larger format.)

Joomchi is a new word and paper process for me.   It is a Korean form of felting hanji paper.   The term joomchi is derived from the Korean expression “making a journey.” You use thin rice paper and water to produce durable textured and collaged or layered sheets.      The process is simple but requires patience and  practice to develop a rhythm and style.   I managed to make 3 small sheets of paper during the afternoon.  It takes time to work the paper sheet rhythmically between your hands, continuously agitating it  so that the paper fibres meld and become one.  You end up with a very strong, crinckly and beautifully textured sheet of paper that contains tiny pinholes which are characteristic of joomchi.  I am very keen to try this process again and use some natural plant dyes or the cyanotype process to dye the paper.   It was a fabulous afternoon of learning in a wonderful setting.   Thankyou Sun ju, Keith and Hana.