ECUADOR CYANOTYPES

In 2024, I traveled to Ecuador for the first time to visit Francis Marion University's biological station in the cloud forest on the eastern side of the Andes mountains. I was overwhelmed by the biodiversity of this place. As a visual artist, my senses were overloaded. I was challenged by the desire to make art but felt much like a tourist. I thought about how people often have a desire to take something physical home with them after they have traveled somewhere new and exciting. Considering Ecuador's abundance of plant life, I decided to test various plants for cyanotype toning and was pleased with the results. I liked the idea of infusing the prints with the plants that surrounded the areas where I made these images. I returned the next year with cyanotype prints from images I made the first year and used plants to tone them. These images represent my first impressions of Ecuador, just trying to soak it all in. While I cannot bring plants back with me, they are physically a part of these cyanotype prints since they are toned with plants that surround the biological station. This body of work was made possible by a Francis Marion University's Professional Develop Grant. Initial research into botanical toning for cyanotypes was also supported in part through a Florence Regional Arts Alliance Individual Artist Mini Grant.