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Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) anthotype by Francis Schanberger

“Three Barbie Camisole Nightgowns” by Francis Schanberger
Country: USA
Parts used: Leaves
Application: Brushing
Exposure time: 56 minutes
Month, season and year: August, summer, 2022, noontime
Substrate: Heavyweight Fabriano Artistico Cold Press from the 1990’s, about 640 gsm coated with gesso.
Contrast of final print: ** (Medium)

Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) anthotype by Francis SchanbergerNorthern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) for making anthotypesAmount: About 15 cc for each layer of 20 cm x 29 cm; estimated 105 cc for a dark green emulsion on 20 cm x 29 cm with 7 layers
Extracted using: Mortar Pestle with 90 percent alcohol.
Thinner: 90 percent alcohol (Everclear, 180 proof)
Layers: 7
Used to create image: Transparent (sheer) fabric (tule), Barbie doll clothes

Challenges or observations:
The pigment is not water-soluble, so it must be applied after decanting from pestle. It can be reduced in a sauce pan to minimize the number of layers (coats). Since it is suspended in alcohol, I used gesso as a barrier to keep it from moving through the paper (i.e. it was coated on watercolor paper treated with a surface of gesso and brushed right on top of the dried gesso). Very fast and easy to overexpose. Also requires a lot of attention, use of high proof alcohol and gesso as a base on the paper.

Instagram: @francisschanberger

Additional information: The fastest emulsion I have made. It easily exposed with as little as 5-10 minutes with noon day sun in the summer. Brush the paper with gesso (and dry) prior to applying pigment. Be prepared for several brushings (let dry in between layers). I haven’t made this emulsion since 2013, so I was expecting at least two days of Ohio sun exposure. I was surprised when the ground turned white after 5 minutes. Don’t take your eye off of this one during exposure.


 
 

This anthotype is part of World Anthotype Day

World Anthotype Day was started by AlternativePhotography.com in 2022. In August anthotype artists all over the world celebrate the anthotype process and send in their entries. We add them here to the database and create a reference book for each year. The purpose of the day is to build a large resource where artist can learn which pigmenets and plants that work and draw inspiration from other artists' work. The reference books can be found here:

Volume 1 is the first book in the series:
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 1 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022
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:
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 2 – The collective research from photogaphers on World Anthotype Day 2023
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


 
If you want to learn more about making anthotypes there is also the "how-to" book:
Anthotypes – Explore the darkroom in your garden and make photographs using plantsMake prints using plants - an environmentally safe process!
 
The most comprehensive resource on Anthotypes.
 

Anthotypes – Explore the darkroom in your garden and make photographs using plants

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If you are already practising anthotype printing, we suggest making notes to document and learn:
Anthotype notebook50 pre-defined pages for you to document your anthotype process.
 

Anthotype notes – Document your anthotype process

Free for Supporting Members - both new and exisiting!

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