About
A little bit about me.
Hi, I'm Krista. Thanks for visiting my page. I'm based out of Ucluelet, BC on the wet west coast of Vancouver Island. I've been grateful to call this place my home for the past eight years, living and working on Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Territory.
As a biologist by training (and self-professed kelp nerd), it was here - surrounded by rugged coastline, rainforest, and vibrant diversity - that I discovered the cyanotype process. Solar printing felt like the perfect intersection between science and creativity, allowing me to share the beauty of the coast in a way that's a little nerdy, a little whimsical, and a whole lot of blue.
The process
Seaweeds and botanicals are hand collected from the shoreline and forest — ferns, flowers, kelp, and whatever the tide brings in.
Archival watercolour paper is prepared with light-sensitive cyanotype solution (a mixture of ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide) and left to dry in the dark.
Botanicals are arranged in direct contact with the coated paper before being placed in sunlight.
The print is exposed to UV for a select amount of time before being rinsed in water. A blueprint is revealed.