Making Anthotypes - Niamh Fahy

For the IMPACT 12 Summer of Print and Books hosted by CFPR, artist and researcher Niamh Fahy shows us how to make beautiful anthotypes while the sun shines. Share your own experiments by tagging us with #SummerOfPrintAndBooks #IMPACT12 Anthotype challenge What you need: Pestle & Mortar or Electric Blender Large brushes or sponges Clear Alcohol (vodka recommended) or distilled water Coffee filter & Funnel or cheesecloth, cotton cloth, muslin any other fine strainer. Paper (Watercolour paper or other heavy paper) Contact print frame, glass clip-frame, Perspex and clamp or bulldog clips Old newspapers or tray Apron, gloves Bowl or large mason jar B&W positive, printed on transparent film/folex or an object (if you prefer to make a photogram) Petals from a colourful flower, berries or plant. (nettles, turmeric, poppies, pansies, spinach are a good place to start but you can try anything.) Sunshine & patience Forage Safely Make sure you have confidently identified the plants, flowers or berries you want to pick. Many common plants and flowers (particularly in the summer months) can be poisonous and cause serious illness, only pick plant material you are sure is safe to use. Check local laws on picking flowers and plants from public areas. Only pick what you need, a handful is usually enough and never pick endangered or protected plants. Anthotypes are a simple process and easy to achieve in a few simple steps. 1.Gather plant material Flowers, plants, berries or spices like turmeric. 2.Making Emulsion: Grind and macerate the plant to a pulpy mixture. Strain the emulsion mixture. 3.Prepare your paper/fabric The paper (or other absorbent material) is coated with the emulsion using a brush or sponge and dried in the dark. 4. Printing the Image: A positive image or object is placed on top on the coated paper and left to expose in the sun over several days or weeks, until a print has formed on the paper. Top tips - collect flowers after windy weather as many petals may have already fallen. -Use up all of your emulsion in one go, coating as much paper as you have and store your paper in a dark drawer or somewhere away from light until you are ready to use. - Be sure to protect clothes and wear gloves as plant materials will stain clothes and skin If you’d like to give this Anthotype challenge a go, please follow us on Instagram @CFPR_Research and to share your anthotype experiments tagging us #SummerOfPrintAndBooks #IMPACT12