Cyanotype on Canvas
I’ve been experimenting this summer with Cyanotype printing. It’s a monotype printing process that creates these amazing monochromatic pieces by exposing a sensitized surface to the sun. Today I am sharing how I used primed canvases to create this splashy blue wonders. Like most things I dive into, I discover that planning, and time are key.
For this project I used the following supplies:
spray bottle with water
plant material
glass plate (For smaller projects I use the glass from a picture frame. )
water for washing
The full process is shown in the video below.
I use Ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. These are a dry product that requires mixing. Jacquard has premixed kits available and different colours as well. I ordered my products from Amazon.
Step one: Working in a dark room, mix the solution according to the instructions.
When applying cyanotype solution and laying down the plant material you need to be in a dark room.
Apply solution to the canvas with a foam brush or large brush. Be sure to cover the side edges. Let canvas dry before proceeding. This can take over an hour.
Step two: Once dry, spray the surface with water. This will create the mottled look on the background. You can see where the water droplets have formed on the surface in the photo below.
Step three: Lay out the plant material and cover with glass and move into the sun.
Step four: The canvas will start to turn colour very quickly in the sun; 30 to 60 minutes seemed to be sufficient. It’s fun to watch it turn from bright blue to brown.
Step five: Remove the plant material. Do this out of the sun. You don’t want the design under the leaves to be exposed.
Step six: Rinse your canvas in water. The brown areas will turn Prussian blue and and blue areas will turn white. I rinsed mine for 4 minutes. Remove from water and let dry. Your print will continue to lighten and darken. It’s fun to sit and watch the transformation.
Step seven: Admire your work! I love all the random water drops in the background. This was because I sprayed the surface with water at the beginning.
Happy printing!
Let me know if you give this a try. Tag me on instagram. I’m @engelbelle.
