Cyanotype + Gum Bichromate Printing from Film + Digital Captures CE 5041C 5041N SUMMER 2012

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1 Cyanotype + Gum Bichromate Printing from Film + Digital Captures [Pick the date][type the sender company name] CE 5041C 5041N SUMMER 2012 Course Information Location: Anderson 608 Dates: WED JUN 6 WED AUG PM Note: There will be no class TUE JUL 3 Holiday Week Instructor Information Name: Sandra C. Davis sdavis@uarts.edu Policy: If your question/concern is of a personal/private nature, I encourage you to contact me via . I schedule hours, M F, 6 9 PM, and will respond to your s at that time, if not sooner. Sandra C. Davis Sandra C. Davis is a photographer whose haunting imagery is about capturing remembered moments from the past, exploring history through photographing what remains from previous eras. She prints these images using a variety or historic photographic processes. She received a BFA from Moore College of Art and her MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking from The University of the Arts where she has published several artist books. Sandra has been teaching various photography processes for over ten years including darkroom and digital photography and alternative processes. Course Description By combining digital technology and traditional photography, students will learn the hands on techniques of contact printing in two of the oldest photographic printing processes: cyanotype + gum printing which were popular in the 19th century. Students will work with photosensitive solutions that can be hand applied to numerous natural fiber surfaces such as artist s papers, fabrics and wood. Traditional film and digital negatives are placed upon the coated surface during exposure to strong light to create beautiful prints. Students explore cyanotype to produce images in rich shades of blue before working in the gum process where they work with photosensitized watercolor pigment, producing prints, which are a beautifully luminous combination of painting and photography. Course Overview This course will introduce students to cyanotype and gum. Students will learn in an atmosphere of experimentation and discovery while making images using these processes. The goal is to teach students hands on processes in this time of rapidly moving technology in the photographic arts which seems to be taking the artists hands out of the equation; while also embracing that same technology in combination with the processes to create unique methods of image making.

2 Course Expectations 1. Students learn how to make enlarged negatives on film. 2. Students learn to make enlarged negatives using digital technology. 3. Students learn hand coating various substrates w/ cyanotype and gum. 4. Students learn the craft of the hand made print. 5. Students will be encouraged to experiment with a variety of substrates. 6. Students will be introduced to art and artists working in 19 th century photo techniques, both historic and contemporary. Prerequisites Classes or Knowledge Required for this Course There are no prerequisite for this course. Course Objectives At the end of this course, students will: 1. Be able to create unique photographic images by contact printing in cyanotype and gum, using light exposures and working in multiple layers. 2. Be able to create negatives using various techniques that they can use as light resists for contact printing. 3. Gain an understanding of how new technology can be used in conjunction with antique processes. 4. Have a better understanding of the origins of photography as a form of printmaking, through printing in 19th century processes. 5. Acquire the skills to make well conceived images that are created well. COURSE RESOURCES Software To make digital negatives, students will be required to work in Adobe Photoshop (any version). This may be in class or as homework assignments. Textbooks There is no required texts for this course, but recommended: A Non Silver Manual by Sarah Van Keuren. This text is not available in the bookstore. Iindividual chapters may be downloaded at: silver manual Course Materials Supplies All photosensitive chemicals, gum arabic, gelatin, vinyl safety gloves, and brushes will be provided by the university as part of the lab fee. Students will need to purchase: paper or other substrates to print on watercolor pigments materials to make light resists including vellum, mylar, or inkjet transparency 2

3 Large film may be purchased on a sheet by sheet basis Digital output may be purchased from the university s Imaging Lab SAFTEY GUIDELINES 1. No food or drinks are allowed at anytime or anywhere near the coating counters or the darkrooms sinks. 2. Wear protective gloves. Wear an apron (optional) if you don t want chemicals staining your clothing. 3. If any chemicals get on your skin, wash the area immediately. 4. Use tongs or gloves while at the rinsing sinks. 5. Rock trays gently: Do not slosh chemicals in the trays, as they may spill onto the floor. 6. Be respectful of your surroundings and clean up any spills. 7. Turn off water when not in use. 8. Report any damage to any equipment or materials. COURSE ACTIVITIES Presentations There will be a presentation of work made by photographers in cyanotype and gum. Demonstrations On the evenings designated as demonstration sessions, the class will start with a brief lecture, immediately followed by a demonstration of the subject of the lecture. These include: copy camera, making digital negatives, cyanotype printing, gum printing, mixing water color pigments. The remaining time will be lab time for students to work with the technique demonstrated that evening. Workshop / Lab Most weeks, there will be time spent in the lab printing; after demonstrations or as workshop classes. Homework Students will need to spend some time outside of class working on light resists. Assignments There will be 5 assignments for this course. Assignment 1 3 will not be graded as they are necessary steps to complete assignments 4 and 5. Assignments 4 and 5 will be graded. 1. Find a light resist or draw a light resist. 2. Make an enlaged negative on the copy camera. 3. Make a digital negative. 4. Complete 4 resolved cyanotypes. 5. Complete 3 resolved gum prints: One multi layered gum print, and one single layer, mixed process, or multi layered gum print. 3

4 Critiques / Sharing Work Evenings designated as Workshop classes will begin will a brief critique of the previous session s prints. The final critique will be conducted as a group critique. Work will be presented to the entire class, and the instructor. The student is expected to make an introductory statement about the images as a body of work. COURSE POLICIES Student Feedback/Communication I welcome all feedback on the course. My preferred method of communication with individual students is via . Students are offered the opportunity to complete an official mid semester evaluation of the course. This evaluation is traditionally delievered + completed electronically at the beginning of the fifth class session. If you experience a legitimate emergency (according to my standards) which will prevent you from completing required coursework on time, I expect you to communicate with me at the earliest reasonable opportunity. Please state the nature of the emergency and when you expect to turn in the coursework. Attendance Attendance is mandatory and essential to your performance. The information needed to complete assignments properly will be given in class. As a student in this course, it is your responsibility to make certain you obtain information covered should you miss a class session. Previously absent students must come to the following class with all of the appropriate work due for that day. All students are expected to arrive to class on time and remain present for the duration of the class. Be aware that tardiness and early dismissals will accumulate in absences. 2 absences = lowered grade 2 late arrivals / early dismissals = 1 absence 30 minutes late arrival/early dismissal = 1 absence Evaluation and Grading Assignment #1 found object pass Assignment #2 film negative pass Assignment #3 digital negative pass Assignment #4 cyanotypes 45% Assignment #5 gum prints 45% Participation 10% 100% 4

5 UNIVERSITY POLICIES Academic Honesty Policy Code of Conduct Violations of academic integrity are considered to be acts of academic dishonesty and include (but are not limited to) cheating, plagiarizing, fabrication, denying others access to information or material, and facilitating academic dishonesty, and are subject to disciplinary action. (Please visit to review this policy in its entirety). GRADING Each assignment will be graded using the following criteria: Component Points Technical Quality 20% Presentation 5% Creativity 25% Uniqueness / Experimentation 25% Clarity of Result 25% Total 100% Your grade will be calculated using the following scale: Grade Percentange Range Grade Point A % 4.0 A 92 90% 3.67 B % 3.33 B 86 83% 3.0 B 82 80% 2.67 C % 2.33 C 76 73% 2.0 C 72 70% 1.67 D % 1.33 D 63 66% 1.0 F 59% or less 0.0 I Incomplete P Pass 5

6 SCHEDULE SESSION + DATE TOPIC COURSEWORK DUE THIS WEEK 1 6/5 2 6/13 3 6/20 4 6/27 Introduction to cyanotype Introduction to light resists print cyanotypes Digital negatives Workshop print cyanotypes Copy Camera Introduction to gum Printing in cyanotype Analyzing types of light resists Assignment #1 Gather flat or 3 D photogram objects or make a tonally rich drawing/painting on translucent paper, mylar or acetate Bring scanned images on USB drive or laptop computer to class. Acquire paper with wet strength for printing. Methods of Instruction Demonstration of cyanotype Class discussion : Print cyanotypes from light resists Digital negative preparation Assignment #2 prepare file for digital negative. due 6/20 Follow steps to prepare a digital negative. Phtotoshop Demonstration. Photoshop techniques for making light resists using the computer. Making digital negatives for contact printing. Preparing files for printing inkjet on transparencies to be printed at the university Imaging Lab or at home. : Making cyantype prints More instruction on digital negatives. One on one instruction Copy camera for large film negatives Assignment #3 Make a film negative in class. Methods of Instruction Found light resists, Laptop if you have one. digital file for output or digital negative something to photograph on the copy camera 6

7 Copy Camera Demonstration. Discussion of materials for gum 7/4 NO CLASS NO CLASS JULY 4 th WEEK 5 7/11 gum demonstration Preparing paper Introduction to gum Sizing paper Methods of Instruction Demonstration: Gum as a single layer gum print on un sized paper and the first layer of a multi layered gum print on sized paper. Discuss the two options of printing 1) sized versus 2) un sized. Discuss compatible colors for gum printing and a variety of papers for gum printing Demonstrate Sizing Rives BFK paper for sizing 6 7/18 Mixing watercolor pigments Preparing paper Mixing watercolor pigments Sizing paper Demonstration 3 watercolor pigments Rives BFK paper for sizing 7 7/25 Workshop Printing in gum Workshop Open Lab One on one instruction. 8 8/1 Workshop Printing in gum Presentation of working artists Introduction to artists working in cyanotype and gum. Methods of Instruction Powerpoint Presentation Demonstration of mixing the processes Workshop Open Lab 9 8/8 Workshop Printing cyanotypes and gum Workshop Open Lab Individual meetings to discuss Final project progress. 7

8 10 8/15 Final Critique Final Critique Assignments #4 and #5 This presentation should show good technique within the craft of printing as well as a grasping of the experimental nature and quality of hand made prints. Class discussion 4 cyanotypes 2 gum prints 8