Cyanotype: Printing with Light
Adult Workshop | Registration opens 2/19/2025 8:00 PM EST
Cyanotype is an eco-friendly, non-toxic, iron-based photographic process which yields a deep blue color. In this workshop, participants will use UV light to explore both the traditional method using found objects, natural materials and/or negatives (film or digital) and, the wet cyanotype method which produces unexpected and surprising results. Coating methods, chemistry safety and history will all be discussed while still allowing time for exploration of the process. A survey of work by artists who have used this process creatively will provide inspiration. All levels welcome.
Supplies- Required:
-a way to bring home your prints (they may still be wet); such as a blotter book, a tray, a plastic bin or the like
-roll of paper towels
-a pencil
Supplies- Suggested and/or Optional:
For Printing Negatives on Cyanotype paper
-negatives (3-5) the size you wish to print, either on office copy paper (paper negative) or on OHP Transparency film (Pictorico/Fixxons) or Film negatives
(Negatives should be somewhat dense and fairly but not overly contrasty)
For Making Photograms on Cyanotype paper
-Objects to put on the paper – anything you can think of and can fit on the paper.
Flat 2-D items are best but 3-D work too
Some suggestions:
-natural material, flowers, leaves, grass, twigs, feathers, etc.
-stencils- plastic(non-transparent) or cardboard
-lace, doilies, string or twine, etc.
-kitchen items/utentils, toothpicks, etc.
-anything with varying opacity
Bruce Dunbar
Bruce Dunbar is a photographic artist who works across processes, combining analog to digital to instant to alternative. He holds a BS from Boston University, a MA in Photography from New York University and a MFA in Visual Art (Photography) from Lesley University. Mr. Dunbar is an adjunct professor of Photography at Western Connecticut State University. He is a photography instructor at the Silvermine School of Art, at the Rye Arts Center and has taught at the Art Explorer Program at Weir Farm National Historic Trust. His photographs and mixed media photography have been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows in Connecticut and New York including the Lockwood Matthews Mansion Museum, Katonah Museum, Silvermine Galleries, Chroma Fine Art and CJG Projects.