Spoiler alert:  Cyanotypes are actually photographs!

 

When people look at my cyanotypes, they're always curious about how the image was created...a tracing? A drawing?  Actually, a cyanotype is an ancient, camera-less form of photography.

 

I blend two iron salts to make a light-sensitive solution that I brush onto a surface such as silk or paper, place natural materials on top and let sunlight react with the chemistry, turning the exposed areas deep blue. The resulting image is quite literally Nature's selfie! The cyanotype process was invented in 1842 by British astronomer Sir John Herschel. It became popular for botanical documentation in the 1840s.

 

This vintage technique is my starting point, featuring natural specimens I collect from my coastal ecosystem in Kiawah Island, SC, and my travels abroad. Through multiple exposures, painting, and intricate hand-altering techniques, my cyanotypes evolve into luminous abstract artworks that evoke sky, water and wild botanicals - perfect for serene, design-forward interiors.

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My hope is that these artworks "painted with sunlight" will help you to cherish your own ecosystem and reignite your sense of wonder at the abundance of amazing details found all around us in nature.