Spring Light through Leaves Triptych (3 original botanical cyanotypes on paper, 24 x 54 inches combined)

These are three 24 x 18 inch (60 x 45 cm) cyanotypes which are each unique hand-printed monoprints. After they are matted and framed separately, they will span more than 54 inches across the wall. Closer to 72 inches or 6 feet (over 180 cm.)

If you were to mat and frame each print separately in a 30 x 24 inch frame, together on the wall with a gap between the frames, they would span 72-80 inches horizontally.

These are all quadruple exposure cyanotypes. The ghostly moonlit effect is the result of seeing multiple closely overlapping images at once. The different shades of blue are created by exposing some parts of the light-sensitive paper to sunlight longer than others.

Cyanotypes are a 19th century photographic process. There is no film negative, no printing press, no ink, no etched copper plate nor carved wood block to be able to reproduce these images. Each is a unique monotype made using real plants from my own garden.

My layering and monochromatic multi-tone technique is inspired by different kinds of printmaking that I have practiced in the past, especially multiple-plate block prints and aquatints.