Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) anthotype by Schuyler Kogan

“Stiltgrass on Stiltgrass on Stiltgrass” by Schuyler Kogan, Woodbury, Connecticut, USA
Parts used: Leaves and stems
Amount: ~200 mL
Extracted by: Blender
Solvent: Isopropyl alcohol
Application: Dabbing with sponge paintbrush

Layers: 4
Substrate: Hand-made paper from bleached stiltgrass fibres
Created with: Photo-positive of stiltgrass plants
Exposure: ~45 minutes in August, Summer 2026
UV strength: ~6
Temperature: ~24° Celsius or ~75° Fahrenheit
Contrast: ✿✿✿ (High)
Challenges or observations: This was one of the better plant emulsions I have used, but it should be used soon after extraction, as it gradually becomes duller while in suspension. Filtering the extracted pigment through cloth also left sediment at the bottom of the container. Avoid getting this sediment on the paper, as it leaves dark marks after exposure.
Additional information: This project, including making the paper, resulted from a long series of experiments my father and I carried out to find creative uses for common invasive grasses in our area. We are both very pleased with the results: high-quality paper, bright pigment, rapid exposure time and high contrast. I have come to appreciate the plant as a material, and I am also happy that we have managed to reduce some of the local patches in the process.