White Deer

White Deer 41”x42”

Cyanotype emulsion on chromogenic print. Limited Edition.

Showing at Wolf Gallery - Located at Music Hill Ranch 16219 Navajo Trail Austin, TX 78738

Within the great story of reality, we enter into the canopied forest of our life, then emerge into the sunlight of our transformation.

The white deer holds a place in the traditions of many cultures. Native Americans believed the female white deer represented benevolence, kindness, creativity, spirituality, renewal, connectedness. A white stag symbolized longevity, virility, abundance and endurance. Symbolically, antlers represent sun rays of the great spirit.

The Celts considered white stags to be messengers from the “other world” and their appearance was said to herald profound change in the lives of those who encountered them. White deer are also a symbol of higher knowledge and to remind us of our spirituality.

Combining masculine and feminine principles, Deer with Stag, God with Goddess, creates a synergy of alchemical forces. Personal transformation is the goal.

My experiments with cyanotypes and early historical photographic processes reflect a type of alchemy in the elements of earth, fire, water and air. The symbolic elements of EARTH are found in the film, paper, and emulsion, FIRE is the sun’s rays exposing and transforming the chemicals into light and shadow, WATER develops and transfigures the image, AIR finishes the process of manifestation. This technique includes painting with the emulsion, destroying and rebuilding the image and repeating the process. Each piece is an evolution. Resurrecting concepts of Spirit and Alchemy in this manner, allows me to reflect upon aspects of my own personal evolution.

Cyanotype Life

 

Working on a new cyanotype piece for a show at the Wolf Gallery in Austin Texas. Here we see the interior life of the cyanotype negative... its potential to create magic with the cyanotype alchemy- earth, water, air, fire.

Making these short little videos is a fun way to explore the creative process.

Melding Lost Arts with New Visions

 

Recently I have been exploring historical photographic techniques.   The cyanotype process, also known as the blueprint process, was first introduced by John Herschel (1792 – 1871) in 1842. 

 

 

In the early days the paper was coated with iron salts and then used in contact printing. The print was developed in the sun or using ultraviolet light, then the paper was washed in water and resulted in a white image on a deep blue background.

 

 

The Salt Print technique was created in the mid-1830s by English scientist and inventor Henry Fox Talbot. He made what he called "sensitive paper" for "photogenic drawing" by wetting a sheet of writing paper with a weak solution of ordinary table salt (sodium chloride), blotting and drying it, then brushing one side with a strong solution of silver nitrate. 

 

 

The final print will have a sepia toned color. Applying the emulsion to the paper in different ways can create interesting textures. Depending on how long your exposure of the paper is to sunlight, will determine how dark, light or contrasty the print will be.

 

 

Above is a digital negative under plexiglass exposing the paper beneath it to the sun.

 

 

Above is an experiment in progress. My goal is to fuse drawing, painting, and digital esthetics with the photography world of the past, thereby bridging lost arts with new visions. 

 

 

Developing the cyanotype with water.

Divine Repose

“Divine Repose,” (detail) is inspired by classic cyanotype prints, specifically of the Pictorialism genre of the 19th century. Model is the beautiful Ashley Hackett.

Blue is Beautiful

These photo sketches are experiments. Much of my art is all about the process of pushing materials, innovating, reinventing and transcending the possibilities of what different mediums can bring to light. Whether drawing, painting, or taking pictures there is sure to be … Continue reading