“Roosters in the Hayloft” by Christine Acebo, Ashford, Connecticut, USA
Parts used: Beet root, Celandine poppy petals, Pansy petals and Turmeric root
Amount: Petals from 10 pansy flowers and 10 poppy flowers; slices of beet and turmeric roots
Extracted by: Mortar for petals, soaking for turmeric and cooking for beet root
Solvent: Gin for turmeric, poppy and pansy, gin and water for beet root
Application: Brushing
Layers: 3 layers of each emulsion, drying between each layer
Substrate: Canson mixed media board
Created with: A positive of my digital prints on Pictorico OHP film, printed with an inkjet printer
Exposure: 3 sunny days in August 2025
Contrast: ✿✿ (Medium)
Challenges or observations: The paper was prepared in June 2024 and stored in the dark over winter until exposed the following August. I’ve used year-old painted paper several times with generally satisfying results. Summers always yield an abundance of botanical material, often leaving me with more painted papers than I have time to print on.
Additional information: I enjoy the colour blend from this mix, and, as usual, using the pansy solution for the final layers reliably adds contrast.
Website: www.christineacebo.com
Mix of Beet root (Beta vulgaris), Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) anthotype by Christine Acebo
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.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 1 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022
Volume 2 is the second book:
Volume 2 contains 100 unique anthotype emulsions from 139 artists taking part from 31 countries.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 2 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2023
Volume 3 is the third book:
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.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 3 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2024
Volume 4 will be the fourth book:
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!The first book solely dedicated to Anthotypes.
Anthotypes – Explore the darkroom in your garden and make photographs using plants
Rated 9,8 - based on 224 votes
And also the Complete Guide and How-To book:
Learn everything there is to know about anthotypes in the updated edition 2 of our popular How-To book.The extended and complete guide to Anthotypes.
Anthotypes - The Complete Guide to Making Photographs with Plants and Sunlight
If you are already practising anthotype printing, we suggest making notes to document and learn:
50 pre-defined pages for you to document your anthotype process.
Anthotype notes – Document your anthotype process
Rated 10 - based on 8 votes
Looking for a good paper to use?
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Pure Inspiration #2: COLOUR
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Pure Inspiration #1: COMPOSITES
A fusion of moments and visions from artists working in alternative photographic processes – featuring 90+ inspirational alternative photographic processes images. Highly creative!Our 25th anniversary book
Alternative Photography: Art and Artists, Edition 2
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World Anthotype Day
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