Cyanotype Paintings
These works were originally created for the two person exhibit, Touches of the Disappearing Things, a show at Aunt Dofe’s Gallery in Willow Creek, MT that opened June 13, 2025- July 13, 2025.
The works are created from a digital negative that is exposed onto cyanotype coated cotton cloth or paper. These works are further distressed, bleached and toned and painted after to shift the Prussian blue of the cyanotype solution to different shades and tones as a way of further celebrating these privileged views of blooming flowers. The images are meant to revel in their beauty and symmetry and are my attempt to honor their time on earth alongside my own.
Black Hollyhock
12” x 12” framed to 16”x16”
Unique print, Cyanotype on cotton cloth, hand bleached and toned, 2025.
This work is created using the alt photography process, cyanotype, printed onto cotton cloth and exposed in the sun. From there I used ammonia and baking soda to further shift the blues of the cyanotype and the wash them out when the tinting and toning was where I wanted it. I further ‘painted’ back in vinegar water to bring some blues back in selected areas.
Black Hollyhock Styles and Stamens
SOLD.
Unique print, cyanotype on unbleached cotton muslin cloth, hand toned, 2025
12” x 12” framed to 16” x 16”
This work is created using a cyanotype mixture painted onto cloth, a digital negative placed on top, then glass to press the two together. This was placed in the sun for a few minutes in springtime Montana sun. I placed further dried and pressed plant material on top of the glass after some exposure in the sun had transpired to create ghost images on top. After the initial water bath to develop the print, I further manipulated the Prussian blues of the cyanotype by painting with a washing soda solution and a tannic acid solution. I experimented further with a slightly acidic water bath in selected areas.
Sunflower face
Unique print, Cyanotype on unbleached cotton muslin cloth, hand toned and painted, 2025
12” x 12” framed to 16” x 16”
This work is created using a cyanotype mixture painted onto cloth, a digital negative placed on top, then glass to press the two together. This was placed in the sun for a few minutes in springtime Montana sun. I then bleached the outer parts of the image with washing soda and selectively toned the inner parts with ammonia. I resubmerged the entire print into an acidic water bath to regain some of the Prussian blues. I then recoated portions of the entire cloth and re exposed the negative on top to darken areas, especially the center. The gold of the petals was created with a mixture of turmeric and water along with part A of the cyanotype solution, dried in the sun.
Sunflower opening
SOLD
Unique print, cyanotype on cotton cloth, hand bleached, toned and painted
12”x 12” framed to 16” x 16” 2025.
This work is created using a cyanotype mixture painted onto cloth, a digital negative placed on top, then glass to press the two together. This was placed in the sun for a few minutes in springtime Montana sun. I then bleached parts of the image with washing soda and painted in the whitened areas with a mixture of yellow watercolor and a turmeric wash. I recoated some of the image with part A (FAC) of the cyanotype mixture and let it dry in the sun, then liquid watercolor pigments in areas. There was further distressing of the image done by sprinkling dried horsetail ash onto the wet cloth.
Zinnia from below
Unique print, Cyanotype on unbleached cotton muslin cloth, hand toned and painted, 2025
12” x 12” framed to 16” x 16”
This work is created using a cyanotype mixture painted onto cloth, a digital negative placed on top, then glass to press the two together. This was placed in the sun for a few minutes in springtime Montana sun. I then bleached parts of the image with washing soda and painted in the whitened areas with a mixture of liquid watercolor and a turmeric wash. I recoated some of the image with part A (FAC) of the cyanotype mixture and let it dry in the sun, then a bit more liquid watercolor pigments in areas.
Zinnia being pollinated
Unique print, Cyanotype on unbleached cotton muslin cloth, hand toned and painted, 2025
12” x 12” framed to 16” x 16”
This work is created using a cyanotype mixture painted onto cloth, a digital negative placed on top, then glass to press the two together. This was placed in the sun for a few minutes in springtime Montana sun. I then bleached parts of the image with washing soda crystals onto the wet cloth. I painted areas of the petals with liquid watercolor and a turmeric wash. I recoated the areas around the flower with another layer of cyanotype mixture re-exposed the negative to enrich the Prussian blue background.
FANTASY FLOWERS
a series of paintings 2018- present
Blue Vase Fantasy Flower
mixed media on cradled board
12” x 12” 2024
Green Vase Magenta Fantasy Flowers
mixed media on cradled board
12” x 12″ 2024
Orange Flowers in Bowl
ink, watercolor, gouache on paper
10” x 13” 2024
Red Flowers Yellow Vase
mixed media on cradled board
9’’ x 12” 2020