Cyanolumens: Masks, Liquid, and Light

The primary focus of the workshop is how to apply cyanotype to selected areas of silver gelatin paper, exploring the use of “masks.” Caroline will demonstrate the use of absorbent paper masks to give better control when adding liquids (such as water or cyanotype solutions). We will also discuss and explore the use of card and other thick masks to vary the amount of light that hits the paper. These two methods give us some ways to control and bring out more colors in a lumen print. Developed by Caroline to create rock imagery (such as that on view in our current exhibition [Im]Printing Memory), the technique can also be used with negatives or photograms.

During the workshop, we will also add various chemicals such as salt, washing soda, and vitamin C. We will be working with at least one type of photo paper, but Caroline will bring examples of a range of papers  since each brings its own palette of colors and capabilities to the table.

We will be washing/fixing the cyanotype part of the print. We will also fix the lumen prints and talk about ways to prevent bleaching of the cyanotype during the fix process, as well as the color change that is inevitable when fixing lumens.

 No previous experience necessary.

Instructor Bio:

Roberts has a background in Chemical Engineering and an MFA in Painting from the University of Houston. Her solo and small group exhibitions include Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, The Printing Museum, HCC Southwest, BOX13 ArtSpace, Lawndale Art Center and San Jacinto college in Houston, Texas, as well as EXP Photo Festival, Barcelona, A Smith Gallery, Austin, Texas, and Anzenberger Gallery, Austria. She has been a resident at The Printing Museum, BOX13 ArtSpace, and Penland School of Craft.

Often found hiking in state and national parks, Roberts’ interest in landscape and the natural world is heightened by managing fifteen acres of riparian forest in rural Texas. Born in the United Kingdom, she lives and works in Houston, Texas where there is ample sunshine for alternative processes!

Workshop Withdrawal Policy

We recommend choosing workshops with care after reading our withdrawal policy. If you have questions about any of our workshops, please contact dale@thehalideproject.org 

This workshop has been generously sponsored The Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation.