“Summer Vine” by Frank Gorga
Country: USA
Parts used: Powder from the grocery store
Application: Dipping (but see observations)
Exposure time: 45-60 minutes
Months, season and year: July, summer, 2022
Substrate: Strathmore Series 400 Drawing paper (but see observations)
Contrast of final print: *** (High)
Amount: 10 g /100 mL
Extracted using: Soaking, allowing insoluble material to settle out and decanting
Thinner: mineral spirits (but see observations)
Layers: 1 (but see observation)
Used to create image: fresh plant material (leaves and stem)
Challenges or observations:
1) Dipped paper works well, but adding a second coat with a brush after the first is dry is probably worthwhile.
2) iso-propanol (rubbing alcohol) can be used in place of mineral spirits but in this case double coating is
probably necessary.
3) This process does not seem to be picky about paper. I have tried a number of different papers from expensive
rag watercolor and printmaking papers to inexpensive drawing papers. All seem to work. My ‘go to’ papers are
Strathmore 400 Series drawing paper and Strathmore Vision drawing paper.
4) This process is *VERY* fast compared to most other anthotypes. Exposures are roughly 1 hour in bright sun.
5) Because of the speed of exposures it is worth considering the following:
a) I think that this process is well suited for teaching purposes, especially if one uses iso-propanol
as the solvent. (I doubt that I would use mineral spirits with children, but it might be OK with adults
in the right setting.) One should be able to go from making an extract to a finshed print in less than
one day.
b) Coated paper needs to be dried in a dark (because of the speed) and well ventilated (because of the
mineral spirits) place.
c) Paprika anthotypes are likely quite impermanent. However, I have found that spraying finished prints
with an acrylic fixative is very effective at stabilizing the prints.
A pdf file with the result of this
experiment and examples of paprika anthotypes is available at
http://gorga.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Paprika-Anthotypes.pdf
This anthotype is part of World Anthotype Day
World Anthotype Day - celebrated annually since 2022 was started by AlternativePhotography.com. Our global community of artists celebrates the anthotype process by submitting prints. These works are added to our database here and compiled into reference books. The purpose is to build a large resource where artist can learn which pigments and plants work and draw inspiration from others. The reference books can be found here:
Volume 1 is the first book in the series:
Volume 1 contains 60 unique anthotype emulsions from 103 artists taking part from 31 countries.
Volume 3 pushes the boundaries with emulsions not only from plants and pigments, but also from beans, moss and mushrooms. 135 artists shared their research.
In Volume 4 we will combine entries from both 2025 and 2026 into one beautiful double edition to include even more inspiring work, insights, and pigments to explore. The release for the combined World Anthotype Day book is planned for November 2026 – a richer, more comprehensive collection worth the wait.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 4 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2025 and 2026
If you want to learn more about making anthotypes there is also the first "how-to" book:
Make prints using plants - an environmentally safe process!
Discover how 140+ artists bring colour to traditionally monochrome processes. This book explores pigments, chemistry, layering, and experimentation through real working examples.
Combines inspiration and learning!
A fusion of moments and visions from artists working in alternative photographic processes – featuring 90+ inspirational alternative photographic processes images.
Highly creative!
Step into a world where light, chemistry, and creativity collide. 137 artists push the boundaries of alternative photography, with processes like cyanotype, gum, and platinum printing to create unique, handcrafted images. They showcase their work, insights, and inspiration.
• Open for entries in August – 31st of October 2026, midnight, your own timezone
• The mission is to find unusual emulsions
• Get published in our this year's book!
Anthotype Day is free and open to all. Volunteers work for free. So, please help us crowd-fund the event. Any donation helps.
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Amount: 10 g /100 mL
Rated 9,8 - based on 224 votes
Rated 10 - based on 8 votes
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