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Arts & Communication Creativity and cyanotype: Camera-less photography

by a community. In my area of expertise, literature,
cyanotype exercises could be included in bookbinding
and even illustrations.”

An analysis of these responses shows that the students
found several qualities and possibilities in the cyanotype
process, both technical and conceptual. The students’
overwhelming feedback relates to the enjoyable aspect
of creating pieces using this technique. This is important
because it is connected to the exploration of the cyanotype
process and the use of printing materials. Furthermore,
it indicates a long-term interest in utilizing cyanotype
as a recurring activity in their artwork. This quality of
cyanotype can potentially assist these students in creating
artwork using cyanotype on its own or in combination
with other disciplines, as embodied by the chair, as shown
Figure 5. Dialogues in Blue, art exhibition, Universidad de las Artes, 2022.
in Figure 4.
path of the visitors. Wooden bases were used to showcase The second most common feedback given by these
three interactive pieces, and one of the students added an students is the forgiving nature of cyanotype processes.
additional element in blue acrylic paint to complement her Cyanotype allows for multiple possibilities of manipulation,
own artwork. Due to the space allocated for the exhibition meaning, this technique is highly adaptable to printing in
in the university’s compound, the art pieces were carefully different types of surfaces and these prints can be modified.
selected for display. The exhibition included a total of 53 Cyanotype students can learn complex photographic
cyanotypes created by 16 students (Figure 5). principles that would otherwise be difficult to comprehend
quickly in chemical photography. It also allows students to
4.2. Personal experiences and comments understand photochemical theory through actual practice,
Once the exhibition was over, we gathered from a giving this technique a didactic quality not found in other
qualitative perspective the participants’ opinions and their disciplines.
personal experiences with cyanotype in the form of a short Students also mentioned that the simplicity of the
narrative. They were also asked to comment on whether cyanotype process enables them to create complex art
they are still interested in exploring this process outside the pieces. Cyanotype is an open process that allows for various
classroom. Some of the students’ responses, translated into solutions and encourages a continuous dialog between the
English, are given below:
artistic process and the final work.
“It is fun. I could definitely apply it to artwork. I could
do this throughout my life.” 5. Conclusion
“Experiencing the cyanotype photographic process was This project began with solely providing artists with the
amazing. Creating images with sunlight and being an technical and theoretical tools that would allow them to
active part in the process of printing a picture, gave me develop art projects at very low cost and using a minimum
the feeling I was building something from a different amount of specialized materials. It was conceived as an
angle and from different shades of blue.” experiment to expand the art of photography by producing
“It is a technique that I want to include in several of my prints similar to those in chemical photography, obviating
products. It has limitless applications, especially if used the need for a laboratory and minimizing the health risks
with mixed techniques like embroidery, collage, etc.”
“It is interesting to learn how to express yourself through associated with it.
something so simple but that, at the same time, gives The results obtained, both during and after the
you the tools to create something so different from those workshops, exceeded our expectations. The students
in regular art disciplines.” approached the technique with enthusiasm, exploring
“It is a very dynamic, fun exercise that has surprising various ideas for their artwork (as shown in Figure 3).
results. I like having contact with an art technique that This exploration led to the creation of more complex
was foreign to me. After this experience, cyanotype feels pieces, and, in some cases, interactive works (as depicted
very familiar. I also want to highlight the collaborative in Figure 4), which stemmed from individual interests and
nature of the technique, as the pieces can be created self-discovery.

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1453