Cyanotype of Whitethorn leaves #3

Unique handmade prints transferring nature and light onto paper. Each one is unique and made by the artist. This series is celebrating Ireland’s native trees. Hawthorn or whitethorn – Sceach Gheal lit. Bright bush. The hawthorn, whitethorn or maybush, with its white blossoms and thorns is a symbol of Maytime, and of magical powers and the ‘little people’ or fairies. As such the hawthorn, especially the ‘lone bush’ has always been regarded with a mixture of fear and respect. It was said to be very unlucky to bring hawthorn into the house. In early Irish law whitethorn was classified as an Aithig fedo or Commoner of the Wood. It’s wood was not much used and berries only eaten when there was nothing else to eat. Cyanotype printing is one of the oldest photographic printing processes in the history of photography. The distinctive feature of the print is its shade of cyan blue, which gives us the word blueprint. The process involves brushing on cyanotype sensitiser onto watercolour paper, arranging the leaves and exposing to ultraviolet light,  then washing in water to fix the image. Magic! Print size 8″x6″ Signed by the artist on the back. Ready for framing.