“I got nothing…” This is the thought that crossed my mind when I started thinking about my August newsletter. I’m a planner…so pretty much after I send out one newsletter, I start thinking about the next one. I’m definitely not a procrastinator…I like to have a good idea of what’s happening ahead. And so back to the dilemma of having nothing. Day in and day out…life in the time of COVID…there’s little change in routine…everything is stagnant…I have no idea of what’s happening ahead.
But come mid-month, there was change…enough change that it really shook up my routine…and rousted me out of my COVID fog…it started with a dog named Jack…
The Southern Man and I have been fostering dogs during the COVID crisis to help out our local animal shelter. Since we’re not travelling and we are home all the time, why not. We were still hesitant about adopting a dog, ever hopeful that travel will resume next year and didn’t want the additional concern with what to do with a dog if one is travelling for several weeks.
As soon as we picked Jack up from the shelter, we knew something was off…his back left leg was lame. Long story short - checked out by vet - torn Achilles tendon plus severe arthritis -not an adoptable dog for anyone. Rather than have him be rehomed again to a final foster home (a place that will care for him until the end with his medical bills paid by the rescue organization), we offered to be that final foster home. So this 12 year old chocolate lab is now a member of the family…and has certainly shaken up the daily routine.
About this same time, I received notice that the Fresh Paint Art Festival here in Everett was cancelled due to the COVID crisis. I get it…I understand…but still I was unhappy…its a tough time to make a living as an artist.
I was moping around my workshop studio…thinking I should just clear everything out…woe is me…when I came across my bin of supplies for making cyanotype prints…mmm…it’s summer…the sun is out…Jack’s hanging out in the backyard…the chemicals are almost three years old…but what else do I have going on…time to begin…
Cyanotype printing is just a fancy name for the sunprints we made as kids, using photo-reactive paper that turned blue when exposed to the sun. I’m going to cover the most basic of steps here…there are plenty of other artists who specialize in cyanotypes and can provide much more info on the process if you’re interested. Linda Clark Johnson and Krista McCurdy are two excellent resources.
It starts with two chemicals mixed together - Ferric Ammonium Citrate and Potassium Ferricyanide. I had some leftover chemicals from a workshop three years ago…supposedly their potency would be greatly diminished by now but figured I had nothing to lose. I “painted” several types of paper with the liquid chemical mixture. One can either let the paper dry or use the paper wet - each gives a different effect. Since I was impatient to see what would happen, I used the papers wet. I made a sandwich for each printing.
Layer 1 - piece of glass (with edges covered with blue tape to minimize cuts). I used glass from old picture frames as well as glass pieces cut at Lowe’s.
Layer 2 - painted paper - I used a variety of papers - 140lb watercolor paper, pages from an old french book, page from an atlas and a page from a very old hymnal.
Layer 3 - whatever design you want to create - I used leaves and flowers from my garden as well as some black and white transparencies I made of interesting images and text.
Layer 4 - second piece of glass. All 4 layers are held together with binder clips so there is a tight fit. Now your’re ready to put them out in the sun.
As you can see, there’s quite a transformation that occurs given the look of the paper - from green before it hits the sun, to cobalt blue with the initial exposure, to faded blue gray once the paper has been out in the sun for a couple of hours. How long you decide to let them sit in the sun is up to you and of course there will be different results with time, heat, exposure, paper reaction, etc…its really a crap-shoot what you might get but that’s where the fun comes in…
Once you undo the paper layers, you want to rinse off the paper in cool water - this will remove residual chemicals. The paper will turn colors as you rinse and depending on the conditions listed above, you might see a striking contrast of images or a muddled mess…
I was happy with these three - the flowers on the old hymnal page looked like blobs and the paper just fell apart.
The text with lavender was made with 140 lb watercolor paper; the other two are on pages from a early 1900s French textbook.
This creative activity definitely kicked me into gear and I seem to be on a blue roll along with blue birds…
I’ve been scratching my brain, searching for additional ways to get the word out about my art and how you can access a piece of my creativity (either original collage or reprint) for yourself or as a gift.
To support the artists who would have been at the Fresh Paint Art Festival, the Schack Art Center is compiling a directory of artists with contact information. For each day in August, they will feature an artist on both their Instagram and Facebook feed. I will be featured on August 14 if you want to check it out.
I have beefed up my Etsy shop with several pieces of original collage creations as well as vinyl collage posters, petite prints and postcards…prices range from $200 to $4.50. If it is a gift you are buying, I am happy to gift wrap it for no additional charge; just let me know in the comments section when you check out.
Also I am offering private studio visits where you can view my work, talk with me about art (or anything else) and purchase direct from me. These visits will be in my private studio, which is located behind my residence in downtown Everett. I have thoroughly cleaned this space and mask wearing will be required. There is no pressure to buy if you schedule a visit - I’m happy to have you drop by, chat a bit and even enjoy a glass of wine if its happy hour…of course, all socially distanced! Contact me at my email, amy_duncan@yahoo.com to set up your visit.
Plans are in the works for a one day Pop Up Sale in September, again with all health and safety precautions in place. As soon as these details are finalized, I’ll let you know.
Thanks in advance for your support - whether it is visiting my Etsy shop, following me on Instagram, subscribing to my newsletter or telling a friend about me and my work, I appreciate it all so much.
