Beginner's Guide to Cyanotype: Beautiful Projects to Print with Light
Perhaps you're like me and have always wanted to try your hand at cyanotype, but haven't known quite where to start. The blue and white images that can be achieved are so lovely though! Lucky for us, help has arrived via Kim Tillyer's comprehensive book, Beginners Guide to Cyanotype: Beautiful Projects to Print with Light, that details exactly what to do to meet with success.
It will be released by Search Press in the U.S. and Canada on June 4, 2024 and can be pre-ordered now in paperback or Kindle format.
Kim often combines plants and found objects in her prints that reflect the natural world. If you're completely new to the term, cyanotype is a process that can be used on paper, fabric, or any other surface that has been coated with a light sensitive emulsion.
She explains on her Witchmountain website that cyanotype is considered an alternative to photography. "There are lots of different recipes, some come ready mixed and you can even buy pre-coated “Sun print paper” but I like to mix my own solution."
"Design elements such as stencils, photographic negatives, plants, feathers and other objects are placed on the surface to block the light and once prepared the paper is exposed to sunlight (or a UV light source) and starts to oxidise, changing colour from pale yellow to a dark grey/green."
"Once developing is complete the print is rinsed in running water and then left to soak and washed again to make sure all the yellow solution has been removed. The washing stops the process and fixes the image so that it is now permanent."
"This is the moment of truth when you either have a beautiful image in ethereal shades of blue and white or it hasn’t quite come out right and it’s time to start again before the clouds cover the sun!"
And now, a BOOK GIVEAWAY for U.S. and Canada residents. [ENDED]
FIVE Winners!
To enter the giveaway, post a comment below after reading the following note:
NOTE: You must include your email address within your actual comment so that you can be notified if you win. If you wish, you may type the address within the comment box this way: janedoe at gmail dot com. (This blog's platform makes it impossible for me to see the email address that it requires you to type in first, thus the necessity to type it twice.)
This giveaway is also underway on Instagram [ENDED]. Would you like to double your chances? You may enter both places!
Five winners will be selected from combined blog and Instagram entries by a random
number generator on Sunday, May 26, notified, and announced on this
post and Instagram. Good luck!
Author of Beginner's Guide to Cyanotype, Kim Tillyer
UPDATE
Congratulations to lstroud, Georgayne, and Tahirah who won via their blog entries!
This giveaway is sponsored by Search Press.
As an Amazon and Etsy affiliate, I earn from
qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
I love the 3D objects and want to try that.please enter me in the drawing. Many thanks …. Merna, mstrauch at Mac dot com
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn more about cyanotype! Please include me in the drawing! donnabridy@aol.com
ReplyDeleteMe too. Suzieross@yahoo.com
DeleteI have been fascinated by cyanotype for a while now, and would love to try it. Thanks for the chance to win this book. Cathy bellycat209 at Gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI have recently been reading about this. I would love to learn more to incorporate this into my card making. I have lots of plants in my garden. I could experiment with.
ReplyDeleteiconnie dot schulz at gmail dot com
This is so cool! Very much like the process we use at my job to burn silkscreen screens, only prettier!
ReplyDeleteAbanks1974@yahoo.com
This looks fascinating! I didn’t know you could mix your own cyanotype solution. I would love to learn more! janine.rudnick@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn more about cyanotype, especially about making my own cyanotype mixture, with my grand daughters. Peggy Robinson
ReplyDeletePlease include me in the draw for your book.
Coocoocatchooo@gmail.com
It’s time to learn something new! Yes:) lorena24 at sympatico dot ca
ReplyDeleteStunning work - love the lanterns. Would love to finally put that cyanotype kit I bought last summer to use! maryssa.paulsen@gmail.com
ReplyDeletebenjisnewadventure@gmail.com if I don't win then I'll buy a copy. This is something I've been meaning to learn about. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI’ve always wanted to try this! kellymaine49@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis has been on my list of "have to do this" for ages,have had trouble getting the solution,having the book will push me to keep searching..lol...tried the sun paper ..it's magical. Thanks for the opportunity to win a book, seestor6@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI'm like Ann -- always wanted to try this but not sure how to start! Would love to see this book. Deicher at jodiem dot com
ReplyDeleteI never thought about mixing my own pigments! I’ve only ever used the already prepared sun print paper. I’m very intrigued by the possibilities!
ReplyDeletemsgould_ams at hotmail dot com
So beautiful! I would love to try!
ReplyDeleteLovely.
ReplyDeletevbartworks@gmail.com
What a fantastic new book! jamasak1 at hotmail dot come
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your giveaways! tryllyam at yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn more about this technique! Thank you for the opportunity to win this book. cockermama at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing idea! I have not heard much about this, but would love to experiment with this technique! I hope to win! Lindaroyalty777@yahoo.com Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteThis would be so much fun to do! abigailkarth@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI’ve always been interested in cyanotype. The book looks fabulous! Jvillam@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteWould love to win this book. As a gardener I've tried this with a small kit but would like to know how to do more. camorrissey at comcast dot net
ReplyDeleteAn Amazing concept I would love to work with. Char Rathman . Charcakes@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI have been waiting anxiously for the release of this book! Georgayne dot Adams at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteOoh! I'd love to do this with students at camp! ebmom2 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThis is a craft that I have seen for years and always wanted to do....... and never have! Using this book would probably be just the nudge I need to learn! Nice giveaway-- thank you! dr.bev1987@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteWow, such neat effects. I would love to try some projects ! sumluckypenny at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteLovely. Krh566@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting craft that can be incorporated into card making, quilling and sewing projects. Great give away. ellencrouch605 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeletePerfect timing for me. I am starting to work in cyanotype also . Would love to have this book as it would help me advance quicker than I am doing on my own . Lcrain189@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLindafarrelly@outlook.com -thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I'm interested to learn about this,
ReplyDeleteBartoncarol03at Gmail dot com
I have played with cyanotype a little bit but have many questions
ReplyDeleteLSC2120@aol.com
Would love the book. dmearls@comcast.net. I tried it with a kit several years ago but have forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be able to do these techniques. Judithabbott at Gmail dot com
ReplyDeletethis looks great! I'm sure my craft group would like to try these. thanks, Diane McWhorter. dmnp at verizon dot net
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome art form. Bakthpak at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI made a very elementary Christmas card 30 years ago. I’m sure this book would improve the technique of V. Lewis - ogaruggg@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to learn this technique! I think this will be the book to buy! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! anamercedes@me.com
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of it but it looks amazing! As a kid we did things with photo paper adding an object on it and keep it in the light. This technique reminded me of that. How amazing would this be with card making? I would love to try it out, thank you for a chance to win! anneke dot schep65 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you could put cyanotype on air-dried clay! That is definitely something I would like to learn how to do! I also did not know you could do cyanotype without sun. This sounds like it would be a fun book to have and try out with my kids this summer! lat7smiles@gmail.com or lat7smiles at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI love the blue color and want to learn to make beautiful art! thegerdes at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful effects! I can't wait to explore this technique. My email to enter the giveaway ayeda.ayed@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to try cyanotype for a while now. What a wonderful opportunity to get started. My email is: yoga4ann at Comcast dot net or yoga4ann@comcast.net Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI tried cyanotype in a workshop many years ago and would love a chance to get involved with it again! I am a huge fan of indigo dyeing and this would fit in perfectly! This is Carol at carol.leikala@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for this chance to learn about cyanotype from someone knowledgeable. deyringphx at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteLwayburn@gmail.com I like to explore new crafts. Lwayburn@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI’ve always loved the blue and white of cyanotypes. Would be happy to learn more through this book. Sign me up at bdlaundy at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI would love to see this book soon! Congrats on publication-it looks lovely. Please enter me in your drawing. boreallor@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteExcited to try Cyanotype. I am a beginner so the book would be VERY helpful! My email is: tahirahrobinson at att dot net or tahirahrobinson@att.net
ReplyDeleteThese clouds have got to go. I’m going to need some sunshine! lstroud at photocompass dot com
ReplyDeleteJunkmailellen@yahoo.com. Would love to get a look at this book!
ReplyDeleteI could see tweaking nature into objects or using found ones, very interesting process I have never tried it. Congratulations on your book! shannonweber1@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of using nature inspired designs with cyanotype, it would be so lovely to make necklaces like the ones in this post! I’m Linda. My email is littlewillowart at gmail dot com. Crossing my fingers that I’m one of the lucky ones! Kim’s work is great!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking project to try! I would love to get your book. carrie.pondvalleyfarm@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThis is Lstroud one of the winners. I have been unable to send my info because my system will not allow me to send email to a gmail account. Can you send me a different email address?
ReplyDeleteLstroud, hi, it’s Ann. Your email from Sunday reached me after I notified you. I replied but it sounds like you didn’t receive it. You should have the book pretty soon, no worries.
DeleteI’m so glad. I was sad to think I finally won something but email wouldn’t let me claim it. I’ll be on the lookout for the book. Thank you for the book and for your great website!
Delete