Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really good.

I'm so pleased that you're here.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I am particularly thrilled about this, because today, we are looking at something I really, really love.

Today, we are looking at cyanotypes.

I wonder if you've come across them before, if you've heard of them, if you've tried working with cyanotypes.

Our lesson is called Cyanotype: Using the Power of the Sun.

I'm really excited to share this lesson with you today.

It comes from the unit of work Foundation Workshops: Developing Skills.

So if you're ready to explore cyanotypes, explore the power of the sun, if you have some focus, energy, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can create a cyanotype print and refine it digitally to explore composition and contrast.

We have some keywords in our lesson, let's go through them, cyanotype, exposure, photogram, and contrast.

So what do these keywords mean? Cyanotype, a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue image using sunlight and light-sensitive chemicals.

Exposure, the amount of light allowed to hit the light-sensitive surface to create an image.

Photogram, an image made without a camera by placing objects directly on a light-sensitive surface and exposing it to light.

And contrast, the difference between light and dark areas in an image.

These are our keywords, cyanotype, exposure, photogram, and contrast.

Let's look out and listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Cyanotype: Using the Power of the Sun.

It has two learning cycles, exploring cyanotype and creating a cyanotype print.

Let's begin by exploring the cyanotype.

What if you could take a photograph without a camera? Have you considered this before? If not, consider it now.

Thanks for your consideration.

And while we are here, pause here and share with someone your reflections on this image that we can see on the screen.

What are your impressions? Thanks for sharing.

There's something so clear and striking about it.

Photography doesn't always need a lens or a digital device.

Over 170 years ago, artists and scientists discovered a way to draw with light using sunlight itself, known as cyanotype.

Cyanotype is a photograph printing process that uses UV light and special chemicals to create cyan-blue images.

Cyanotype is one of the earliest photographic techniques, developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, initially as a method to reproduce notes and diagrams. Anna Atkins was one of the first female photographers.

She used cyanotype to record plants and algae.

Her work is both scientific and artistic, and her prints are still admired today.

The evolution and development of camera technology has changed the approaches photographers use today.

However, cyanotypes are still used by many contemporary artists.

Joy Gregory has used cyanotypes and photography to record objects of cultural significance to explore race, gender, and identity.

Masao Yamamoto is known for creating small, intimate prints.

He uses cyanotype to extend photographic experiments and explore themes of memory and impermanence.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is a cyanotype? Is it A, a type of camera lens, B, a digital editing filter, C, an early photographic printing process that creates blue images, D, a type of drawing using blue ink? Pause here while you decide what is a cyanotype.

Well done if you selected an answer C.

Indeed, a cyanotype is an early photographic printing process that creates blue images.

Cyanotype paper is coated with light-sensitive chemicals.

When these chemicals are exposed to UV light, they react and turn blue.

The covered areas remain pale, forming the image.

Exposure means how much light reaches the surface.

Longer exposure to sunlight or UV creates darker, more intense blues, as the chemicals react more with the light over a longer period of time.

A shorter exposure time will make lighter tones in the cyanotype.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of this cyanotype we can see on the screen.

I love the feeling of movement in this cyanotype, the way these leaves are almost dancing, or floating.

A photogram is an image created without a camera by placing objects directly onto light-sensitive paper.

In cyanotype prints, opaque objects block light and leave behind clear silhouettes, making them useful for scientists who might be documenting the objects, or artists exploring visual aesthetics.

Cyanotype is a form of photogram.

What do you notice about the objects that have been selected for this cyanotype? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Selected objects are usually relatively flat, such as leaves, flowers, like in this case, or keys, lace fabric, or scissors.

This is so that the object is able to block the UV light more easily.

Objects can be pressed down and flattened slightly to aid the cyanotype process.

Artists, scientists, and photographers can experiment with which objects are used and how they're arranged within the composition.

Choose objects that showcase a variety of textures, shapes, and rhythms for your cyanotype composition.

Think about balance, repetition, and contrast to make your image visually interesting.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of the cyanotype we can see on the screen.

Thanks for sharing.

I feel there's a really lovely sense of growth or togetherness in this image.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which type of light source is needed to expose a cyanotype? Is it A, any light source will do, B, sunlight or UV light, C, fluorescent bulb, or D, infrared light? Pause here while you decide what type of light source is needed to expose a cyanotype.

Well done if you selected sunlight or UV light.

This is the type of light source that's needed to expose a cyanotype.

And now, it's time for your first task.

I would like you to create your own cyanotype image.

You should select objects considering scale, texture, shape, and theme.

Arrange your selected objects on the coated paper, considering composition, balance, rhythm, and contrast.

Press down the objects and expose to sunlight or a UV lamp for 5 to 15 minutes, depending on rightness.

Remove the objects gently, once the time has elapsed.

Rinse the paper gently in water to reveal your final cyanotype.

That's a wonderful moment.

Enjoy and savor that one.

And then note down how long you expose the image for.

So pause here while you have a go at creating your own cyanotype image.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of creating your own cyanotype image? You might have created something wonderful like this.

Let's hear from Jacob.

"I made this cyanotype print by selecting organic forms with interesting textures and shapes, then arranging them on the paper to form an overlapping, natural composition.

I exposed them for 10 minutes, which worked well." Pause here and share with someone your impressions of Jacob's cyanotype print.

Thanks for sharing.

And now, onto our next learning cycle, creating a cyanotype print.

After producing a cyanotype, you might reflect on how successful it is.

How did exposure time affect the tones? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Which objects created the most interesting contrasts? Pause here and discuss this with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

And as well, you can record your reflections in your sketchbook with notes and quick sketches.

Pause here while you do this.

Let's hear some reflections.

Here's Andeep, "My cyanotype is a bit blurry.

It might be because the objects I use weren't pressed against the paper and didn't block the UV light.

Next time, I'll choose flatter, more opaque objects." And Izzy, "I'm pleased with my cyanotype print.

I used a few objects which made a spacious composition, but I might try building a more complex, abstract cyanotype by using overlapping objects." Really great reflections.

After making a cyanotype print, you might choose to develop it further digitally, or use your evaluation to inform another cyanotype print.

Pause here and share your impressions of this cyanotype print on the screen.

Thanks for sharing.

Digital tools allow you to refine, enhance, and remix your cyanotype print.

Use a phone or digital camera to capture your cyanotype print.

Make sure the photo is clear, flat, and evenly lit, so your editing will be more effective.

Cyanotype may be used by artists alongside digital tools to create meaningful, developed compositions.

Binh Danh merged 19th-century cyanotypes and chlorophyll printing with digital negatives to address memory, war, and diaspora, particularly the Vietnam War.

Trevor Lund bridges digital and analog photographic methods using cyanotypes to experiment with materials, process, and precision, creating controlled compositions.

Pause here and share with someone, do you know any other artists who have worked with cyanotypes? Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which factor will most affect the level of contrast in a cyanotype print? Is it A, the type of paper used? Is it B, the amount of water used when rinsing, C, size of the objects, or D, length of exposure to light? Pause here while you decide which factor will most affect the level of contrast in a cyanotype print.

Well done if you selected answer D.

Indeed, it's the length of exposure to light.

That's the factor which will most affect the level of contrast in a cyanotype print.

Cyanotypes don't appear fully formed straight away.

They develop and darken after rinsing and drying.

Exposure and UV sunlight strength both affect your results, so it's helpful to note how long you exposed your image for.

Contrast is the difference between light and dark in an image.

Adjusting contrast digitally can also make your shape sharper and more striking.

Use digital editing software to adjust brightness, contrast, and cropping.

These simple edits can dramatically change the clarity and impact of your work.

Pause here and share with someone your reflections on the editing that we can see that has been done to the image on the left to give us the creation on the right.

Thanks for sharing.

I think it's really become so vivid and alive, the version on the right.

You could combine cyanotypes, experiment with different compositions, or layer them with digital elements.

This pushes your work beyond traditional processes to expand possibilities.

Cyanotypes can also be used as an exploration of culturally significant objects and bring storytelling into the process.

Sonja and Elisa Jane Carmichael demonstrate how the cyanotype process can be combined with culturally meaningful material, found elements, and fabric weaving to explore identity, environment, and tradition.

Alix Marie shows how cyanotype can go beyond photograms of plant imagery, and can be used in conceptual, mythological, and bodily explorations.

Her work integrates traditional photographic processes with installation and material experimentation.

Artists today often mix historical techniques with modern tools to create experimental compositions.

Here, you can see an example of a cyanotype silhouette, which reimagines the photography technique to create a layered artwork.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of this final creation on the right.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of these images is not a cyanotype, A, B, or C? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, this is not a cyanotype.

And now, it's time for your next task.

I would like you to upload your cyanotype into a digital editing program.

Adjust the exposure and contrast settings, and experiment with layering to create a second, refined outcome.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

So how did you get on with that task? Uploading your cyanotype into a digital editing program, adjusting the exposure and contrast settings, and experimenting with layering to create a second, refined outcome.

You might have created something like this and said something like this.

Let's hear from Jacob.

"I digitally edited the cyanotype, cropping the image to the most interesting section, and increasing the contrast settings to make it stand out." Pause here and share with someone your impressions of Jacob's edit of his cyanotype.

Thanks for sharing.

And now, I'd like you to show somebody your original cyanotype and your second, refined outcome, and talk them through the process of how you got from the first to the second.

Thanks for sharing.

And finally, I'd like you to share with someone your ideas for your next cyanotype project.

What might you like to explore next? Any ideas around subject, composition, particular thoughts on contrast or layering? Pause here while you share about this, your next exploration into working with cyanotypes.

Thanks for sharing.

In our lesson Cyanotype: Using the Power of the Sun, we have covered the following, cyanotype is an early photographic process using UV light to create blue-toned images.

Light exposure and object placement affect the final result of the cyanotype.

Photograms explore composition through shape, light, and shadow.

Contrast can be manipulated by exposure time and material transparency.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It was wonderful to explore cyanotypes, to use the power of the sun to create photograms, to explore the placement of objects, exposure, contrast, and of course, and then getting into digital editing.

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.

And perhaps you'll continue to explore using the power of the sun in this way.

I've really enjoyed teaching you.

And I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.