Blueprints of the Garden

Cyanotype is a historic photographic printing process that Sir John Herschel invented in 1842. Botanist Anna Atkins later popularized the process when she used it to illustrate her book Photographs of British Algae.

The process uses a light-sensitive coating made from iron salts, most often applied to paper or fabric. When ultraviolet light from the sun or a UV lamp hits the coated surface, the exposed areas turn a beautiful dark blue while the unexposed areas remain white.

In the class I took, I discovered that cyanotype is not only affordable but also a fun and creative way to record the flora in a garden. The process allows aspiring artists like me to create note cards, fabric coasters, art prints, and much more.

I have always loved photography and appreciate the satisfaction of seeing an image right after taking a picture that today’s technology offers. Yet I find something especially appealing about this old-fashioned method of making art. Unlike the immediacy of today’s digital photography, cyanotype requires chemistry, patience, and a willingness to be surprised by the result. It reminds me of the anticipation I once felt when picking up a roll of developed photographs and hoping that at least one image turned out perfectly. With cyanotype, the final image remains uncertain until the washing process reveals it.

To make a cyanotype, equal parts ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide are mixed and applied to a surface. The coated material then dries in a dark space. For the class, the instructor had already completed this step.

Once dry, the light-sensitive coating reacts with sunlight and forms the cyanotype’s signature blue image. During the class, we removed each coated fabric piece from its protective folder and arranged collected plant material on the fabric to create a visually pleasing composition.

Once the arrangement felt complete, each participant sandwiched their fabric piece between two sheets of glass and secured it with binder clips. We then placed our pieces in direct sunlight for about five minutes. Exposure time varies depending on the intensity of the available sunlight, which explains why some artists use UV lights to gain greater control over the process.

After exposure, the fabric went into a simple water bath for five minutes.

Cyanotype connects the origins of photography with today’s desire to create something personal and handcrafted. Botanical samples collected from the garden combine with the very light that sustains those plants to create a lasting impression and record a particular moment in time. The process is simple, but it is not easy. Like working in the garden itself, cyanotype teaches patience, rewards creativity, and encourages an appreciation for the process as much as the finished result.