Encaustic Cyanotypes

Cyanotype is one of the earliest known forms of camera-less photography. Sir John Herschel developed the process in 1842, sharing it with Anna Atkins. Anna drew upon our affections the minute we heard her story. She was also one of the first women in the world to take a photograph with a camera. She began a pioneering work capturing scientific specimens through the process of cyanotype. She published several visually stunning books, her first in 1843.  Her marks of originality in blue bound volumes leave us seeking, examining and moving us to inspiration. 

These impressions are captured by exposure to the sun to reveal its hidden secrets. Our images were gathered from our garden and walks where we gave ourselves permission to be treasure hunters, gathering tiny wonders along the path it led. The alchemic process of recording these curated objects, a camera-less snapshot, a moment, always opens up surprise as an image unfolds, quickly yielding its secrets to the light. An array of indigo hues portrays lines to document a likeness in unexpected blueprints of field notes. We have taken a blend of captured moments through chemicals, paper, water and bold sunshine. A blend of science and photography. After this process, these curiosities are brought to our encaustic studio for a combination of storytelling, wax, pigment, carvings and a mixed media finish.

Photography means, “Drawing with Light” and encaustic means, “To Burn In.” We cannot imagine a better fusing of two expressions. Each a one of a kind layered time capsule. These original, hand designed by light and time, are weather worn pieces in our cyanotype collection. We hope you enjoy gazing at each unique form of captured expression as much as we have in forming and creating them.