Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) anthotype by Pam McLean-Parker

“Pennsylvania Ferns” by Pam McLean-Parker, Pennsylvania, USA
Parts used: Spinach leaves and stems
Amount: 4 cups spinach leaves from Northern Pennsylvania (spinach origin location nearby the pressed ferns within my imagery)
Extracted by: Chopping, blending and filtering
Solvent: 1/2 cup of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
Application: Brushing

Layers: 2 layers of spinach emulsion on water-soaked paper
Substrate: Strathmore printmaking paper
Created with: Light-sensitive spinach emulsion on Strathmore paper layered with natural ferns and exposed to full sunlight
Exposure: 1 hour 40 minutes on August 15, 2026
Temperature: 29° Celsius or 84° Fahrenheit
Contrast: ✿✿✿ (High)
Challenges or observations: So fleeting is the natural environment when procured for sun printing!
Additional information: My Pennsylvania Ferns anthotype was created by obtaining and pressing fern samples from a much-loved area in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, USA, gathered during long walks. Using spinach grown from a nearby region in northern Pennsylvania as the emulsion for my printing process, my goal was to capture and celebrate the lush greens and the rich and intricate details of the delicate fern within a print that, in every way, had its origins in northern PA.