Traditional Cyanotypes

Blue and White

What’s not to love about traditional blue and white? Think Delft pottery, Willow Pattern designs and Cornishware, simple blue and white designs that are timeless. The traditional cyanotype method was invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, it is an historic photographic technique that combines two chemicals – ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide, mixed together with water to create a photosensitive solution which is painted onto the surface of paper or fabric and left to dry. Objects such as plants and flowers are placed on top of the dry paper and this is then exposed to UV light to create the image. Jill uses the sun wherever possible but a UV lamp can be used in winter if necessary.  Some of the work is available to purchase from Jill’s Etsy shop  

Original blue and white cyanotype print of three allium flowers. The flowers are white silhouettes on a dark Prussian blue background. The background was applied using random brush strokes creating a feathery edge to the print.
Original traditional cyanotype print of three alliums
Traditional cyanotype of hedgerow flora including ferns, cow parsley, and silverweed leaves.
Hedgerow Flora
Original blue and white cyanotype print of three bluebell flowers.
Bluebells Trio
Blue and white traditional cyanotype of snowdrop leaves and flowers. White silhouettes on a dark blue background with a shimmering sky above the flowers.
Under a Starry Sky
Original cyanotype print of a selection of seaweed specimens
Three snowdrops cyanotype. SOLD
Umbellifer Cyanotype
Allium Seed Head Cyanotype
Three Guinea Fowl feathers cyanotype
Queen Anne’s Lace Flowers cyanotype. SOLD
Wood Anemone cyanotype
Tasmanian Yellow Wattle cyanotype