Frequently Asked Questions

What are these?

I am often asked if these are watercolor paintings due to uniqueness of my brush strokes and breath-taking color palettes; however, this is simply not the case. These are in fact photographs I create using 19th-century photographic processes.

How do you create these images?

Each piece I create is hand-coated using a paintbrush with a special light-sensitive pigment and allowed to dry in a dark space. Then, in dim light, I place either a photographic negative or an interesting-looking object I’ve found during my wanderings on top and expose it to ultra-violet light, usually from sunlight. The final image appears when I wash the print in water to remove the unexposed pigment.

Can you tell us a little about each process?

The breathtaking blue images I create are the result of a photographic process called cyanotype.

My cyanotype nature prints are an homage to one of my personal heroes, Anna Atkins, a biologist who was the first woman to use this process. She used cyanotype to document plant life, and created arguably the first book of photography to publish her findings. I felt it was fitting that I honor her memory with my own work.

The soft grays, vibrant pinks, and other colors in my pieces these are made possible by a photographic process called gum bichromate, which is one of the earliest forms of color photography.

Each layer of light-sensitive gum solution I brush on contains a separate color of watercolor pigment of my choice. For full-color prints, each layer of color must be exposed with its own negative and completely dried before I can apply the next layer. Producing a full-color print can take anywhere from 3-12 layers of color. As you’ve probably guessed, a full color print can take days to create; sometimes it can even take weeks.

Would you consider doing a custom print or a portrait commission?

Absolutely, yes! Please send me a message with your contact information, and I will be happy to set up a time to discuss creating a custom piece or portrait commission.

Do you ever use other people’s photographs?