Spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) anthotype by Michelle Dobre

“Nature’s Grace” by Michelle Dobre, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Parts used: Leaves and stems
Amount: Handful
Extracted by: Blender and then a cotton cloth to squeeze the juice from the pulp
Thinner: A small amount of tap water
Application: Large sponge brush with a slanted edge

Created with: This anthotype was created using a pressed and dried stem of ‘Enchanter’s Nightshade’. I blended a handful of fresh spinach with a little tap water and then extracted the juice squeezing the pulp and liquid through a cotton cloth. I applied 8 layers of the spinach emulsion, drying each fully before applying the next. The plant was then placed and glass was put over the print to expose it outside in full sun.
Exposure: 4 hours in strong, full sunlight in August, summer 2024
Temperature: 27° Celsius
Contrast: ✿✿✿ (High)
Challenges or observations: I had used this stem of the plant in another print previously when it was freshly cut which produced a nice dark contrast and a slightly lighter shade directly around the plant from the plant’s own moisture. When I made my entry for World Anthotype Day the plant had been further pressed and dried. This allowed the sun to penetrate through the leaves more and pick up more detail not previously seen in my earlier fresh print. I think good pressing and drying is key to getting as much detail as possible from botanical anthotype prints.
Additional information: The plant I used as my image for this anthotype grows in my garden and is called Enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana).
Website: www.inbluembotanicalprints.co.uk