Imperforate St John’s Wort (Hypericum maculatum) anthotype by Paul Ligas

“Pinecone” by Paul Ligas, Ledbury, Herefordshire, UK
Parts Used: Petals
Amount: A handful of petals
Extracted by: Mortar & pestle
Thinner: 4 teaspoons of isopropyl alcohol
Application: Brushing with a foam brush

Layers: 2
Substrate: Daler Rowney Aquafine smooth, hot-pressed watercolour paper, 300 gsm
Created with: Laser printed OHP positive
Exposure: 4.5 hours in sunshine with occasional summer clouds, on June 26, summer 2025
Contrast: ✿ (Low)
Challenges or observations: I’ve occasionally noticed variations in the colour of the final print when using Imperforate St John’s Wort petals. The colour shown here represents the most common result, though some prints have appeared noticeably redder (see additional information below). I’ve not yet determined what causes these differences, as they can occur even a week later using identical materials and the same process.
Additional information: Imperforate St John’s Wort is often found in waste ground, rough grassy areas, and occasionally in shaded, damp locations across Europe and Western Asia. Flowering through the summer months, it has a long history of use in traditional medicine and carries mythological significance—partly due to the red pigment that can be extracted from parts of the plant.
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