Cyanotype Workshop with Julia Whitney Barnes

Learn how to make your own piece of cyanotype with multidisciplinary artist Julia Whitney Barnes!

Sometimes considered a printmaking technique, sometimes a photographic technique, artist/educator Julia Whitney Barnes approaches the medium of cyanotype as someone painting with light. She is interested in creating objects that feel both beautiful and mysterious. Each of her cyanotype paintings recall something familiar yet slightly outside of time. Given that sunlight starts the exposure process with cyanotype chemistry, Julia carefully arranges elaborate compositions at night and utilizes long exposures under natural or UV light to create the final prints. She manipulates physical impressions of plants grown in her Hudson Valley garden and other nearby areas, along with intricate negatives that are created as digital renderings or photographs printed in reverse onto transparencies.

This cyanotype workshop does not require any previous experience and will start with the basics of how to make a cyanotype print on paper and fabric. We will cover how to print using fresh and pressed plants, printing with three-dimensional objects (string, glass jars, jewelry, etc.), printing with paper cutouts and how to create and print with photographic negatives. This medium is infinite in ways to combine techniques during the creation of the print and after it has been printed.

Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic printing process invented in 1842 by scientist and astronomer Sir John Hirschel, which produces a cyan-blue print when a chemistry-coated surface is exposed to sunlight. It is also known as a sunprint, photogram or blueprint.

Workshop will take place outside. Masks are encouraged to be worn by all, and will be required for participants who are unvaccinated.