Making Your Own UV Box for Cyanotype Making
November 24, 2023 • Naomi Southon
A UV bed or UV box can be a valuable tool for cyanotype enthusiasts who want to create prints without relying on sunshine. Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that uses a photosensitive solution and UV light to produce distinctive blue-toned images. Traditionally, this process requires exposure to natural sunlight, but with a UV bed, you can achieve the same results in a controlled environment.
Using a Gelli Plate to Create Patterns and Collage Papers
July 31, 2023 • Naomi Southon
One of the main advantages of using a gelli plate is its ability to create beautiful and intricate patterns with ease. The surface of the plate has a gel-like consistency, which allows for easy manipulation and control over the desired pattern or texture. Artists can experiment with different tools, such as stencils, brushes, or even found objects, to create interesting textures on the surface of the gelli plate to create visually interesting designs. These textures are then transferred onto paper when it is pressed onto the plate.
Making a Gelli Plate Stencil with a Glue Gun
July 29, 2023 • Naomi Southon
Creating a Gelli Plate stencil using a glue gun is a simple and effective technique that can add unique designs to your artwork. The glue gun, commonly used for bonding materials together, can also be utilized to create intricate stencils for various art projects.
Even More Cyanotype Tie Dye and Shibori
July 27, 2023 • Naomi Southon
Following on from the previous blog post using the tube technique these next few pieces were created using that technique but with various extra treatments and folding applied.
More Cyanotype Tie Dye and Shibori
July 25, 2023 • Naomi Southon
After dabbling with tie dying the tea bag paper treated with cyanotype chemicals and creating some interesting effects (see previous blog post on Cyanotype tie dye) my mind went into overdrive! I researched and trawled google for techniques to try. It's not as simple as just tie dying the paper as the effects are created depending on where the sunlight can reach or not reach and in a heavily folded piece of shibori the only exposed surfaces would be the outsides and the majority would stay white. Here are a selection of the results I achieved this time.