I have been doing a few more wet Cyanotype prints this week while we had a few days of sun. These ended up being 2 of my very favorite of this series. I love experimenting with the additives on the wet Cyanotype. You get some very unique looks depending on what paper you use and what you spritz on top. 

On this set, I used Hahnemuhle Platinum Rag paper, spritzed on water, diluted baking powder, a little spray walnut ink, and soap suds. The soap suds are my very favorite part of this whole process. So unpredictable in each print and the unique looks it gives you. 

I like adding some art pigments, like the walnut ink in this print and after looking around I discovered that walnut ink comes in some various toned colors. I have been experimenting with using these inks and noticing the difference it makes if you spritz on the ink before you set your botanical vs. after you set down your botanical. If you spritz on your ink before you set your plant down on your paper – the ink invades the plant areas that were covered while exposing in the sun. If you add your spray inks on top of your plant then these areas end up with a less contaminated area under the plant when exposed. It is just an interesting thing to experiment with – ink spritzed under the plant or added on top of the plant. I’d love to know some of your experiments with wet Cyanotypes and what you loved about them. 

Interested in doing some of these one-of-a-kind prints for yourself? Check out the new Alternative Printing workshop, and I’ll show you how I make these, Lumen prints, and Van Dyke prints.