CYANOTYPES - Rosie Emerson

Cyanotypes are an analogue photography technique dating back to the 19th century, they only create blue prints, and this where the architectural term 'blueprint' comes from. The chemicals are mixed and then painted on to paper, it is a light sensitive process so this needs to be done in the dark. For these cyanotype works I use large negatives which are printed on acetate, and layer these with real objects, often flowers and grasses which come together by exposing the layered image to UV light. In the summer I use the light directly from the sun, or an exposure unit in winter. In the final steps I add brushstrokes of watercolour, bronze powders, or gold leaf to the images.