Cyanotype Workshop

Cyanotype Workshop

Photography Without the Lens 

Become a pro using this classic photographic process that yields distinct and rich results. 

Create your picture ‘imperfect’ image like your ancestors did using the cyanotype technique during a tranquil afternoon with local photographer and artist, Maaike Roosendaal of Brilliant Images.

Step out into the sun and watch the experiment unfold with old photo negatives and nature in this beginner and date-friendly workshop that magically transforms chemistry into art. Take home your masterpieces for house decor, add them to your portfolio, or gift your work to family and friends.

What is Cyanotype?

Cyanotype etymology originated from the Greek name “cyan,” which translates to “dark-blue impression.” Using a chemical coat of hydrated iron hexacyano ferrate complex on a porous surface, 18th century scientists discovered how UV light interacts with the solution – the UV light exposed areas would turn into an insoluble vibrant Prussian Blue, while the unexposed areas washed away to unveil a sharp negative imprint.

By the 1840s, astronomer and chemist, John Frederick William Herschel, officially invented the cyanotype process, which he featured in his paper “On the Action of the Rays of the Solar Spectrum on Vegetable Colours and on Some New Photographic Processes.” From the 1870s until the 1950s, cyanotype and its variants were the primary methods used by engineers and architects to copy plans, hence the term “Blueprint.” Cyanotype was revived and recreationally explored in the 1960s artworld as an alternative to the silver gelatin process using commercial photographic material.

One Ticket Includes All Necessary Materials

Dates: Saturday, November 7
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Stratford Perth Museum
Cost: $85.00 plus tax per participant

What to Bring:

• Film and Photo Negatives to Use * Optional
• Flora or Botanicals * Optional

Ages: 15+

Location: Stratford Perth Museum

What you’ll learn

• The cyanotype process and its curious history

• Hand-coating paper, rinsing and composing prints with botanicals, objects, and/or portrait negatives that bloom into blue

• Sun-printing or UV light printing in real time – weather permitting

• Space to experiment, wander the museum’s outdoor trails to select natural materials, and embrace beautiful accidents while enjoying the exhibits.

• The Cyanotype portrait workshop includes a mini photography session for a portrait to use on your cyanotype

Session includes guided demos, historical presentation, Q&A, and hands-on support

in a fun, relaxing environment.

Workshop Leader: Maaike Roosendaal of Brilliant Images

Maaike is a Photographic Digital Artist based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Her photographic art is a mesmerizing blend of creativity, imagination, and technical skill. It transports viewers into enchanting worlds where reality intertwines with fantasy.

Through the lens, Maaike captures and preserves fleeting moments, transforming them into timeless wonders. From ethereal creatures bathed in golden light to spellbinding portraits that reveal hidden emotions, her magical photographic art defies the boundaries of the mundane. Optical illusions, levitation, and other illusions are expertly used, adding a touch of enchantment to every frame. Each image tells a unique story, inviting viewers to unravel the mysteries and immerse themselves in the extraordinary.

With a stroke of artistic sorcery, Maaike’s art captivates our hearts and leaves us in awe of the inexplicable beauty that can be captured through the art of photography.