Cocktails & Cyanotype

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I had the privilege of participating in a very FUN class at this year’s Orlando Fringe. Hosted by Visual Fringe and taking place in VFHQ, local artist Judy Pickett taught a group of us crazy creatives the art of cyanotype and while cocktails were on the agenda, we were too focused on our artwork to care!

Our work station with all our supplies and foliage samples for us to use.

Judy began by explaining all the really cool things you could create with the cyanotype method including combining it with the encaustic process or even using it to decorate fabric. I was amazed! She brought samples of her work including a denim jacket and a stunning rice paper lamp that when illuminated resulted in the most lovely glow.

To see samples of her work, please follow Judy on Instagram. In fact, here’s the link…

https://www.instagram.com/judypickettart/?hl=en

The class was about an hour and in that time each participant created three absolutely beautiful works of art. I know this because I watched as others worked and I saw the end results. Anyone can make art via cyanotype and you really can’t mess it up!

Cyanotype works almost in reverse of traditional film photography. While both methods utilize chemically treated paper and a bath solution, the catalyst is what makes the difference. Developing traditional photography film requires retreating into a dark room but cyanotype needs light to develop and lots of it! The cyanotype process is perfect for our sunny Florida weather.

Here we are outside with our cyanotype paper as it soaks up the bright Florida sunshine.

When the chemically treated paper turns from a pale green to grey, that’s when you know it’s time to go back inside. Here you can see that most of us utilized different types of foliage to make our images.

Once we brought our cyanotypes back inside and gave them a little bath… literally! Here’s what our cyanotypes looked like as they dried…

Look at all those beautiful blues! The foliage placed on top of the chemically treated paper creates a negative effect when placed in the sun. When the paper is bathed in its special solution, it locks in the incredible shades of blue you see here!

Here are the artworks I created in this fabulous class…

I thoroughly enjoyed this class and was truly inspired to continue exploring creative ways to utilize this technique. Judy is a fantastic teacher who explained the entire process in a simple and straightforward manner. Watching our artwork develop like magic gave us all a boost of confidence, too!

If you’d like to learn more about Judy Pickett, her work and her artistic methods, check out her website via this link…

https://www.judypickett.com/

Judy will be offering a class in June at Leu Gardens in Orlando, FL. You can find more info and register for this class by following this link…

https://www.judypickett.com/local-classes-and-workshops

4 thoughts on “Cocktails & Cyanotype”

  2. Hi Adrienne, My comments below on your recent post June 7! Another Adrienne find w/Judy Pickett art for everyone! Suggest Oakland Nature Art Center get Judy Pickett to do a 1 day class!!! I will sign up for it!!

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The Wandering Art Historian's avatar
I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.