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A few years ago I heard about chlorophyll printing and had experimented using an old negative from a palladium print workshop on a fig leaf. A partial image resulted but soon faded and the leaf decayed due to sitting outside too long. Curiosity about the process was postponed till a couple months ago when I learned of the Indian born London based alt process artist, Riya Panwar whose Instagram feed I fell in love with. I messaged her and Riya agreed to a remote mentorship/workshop. After a couple google meets, researching the chlorophyl index (SPAD) of several local plants of Western North Carolina and collecting my basic materials (positives printed by my print mentor, Clay Harmon; glass and plexiglass sheets and binder clips) I was ready to execute my project during my self imposed artist retreat at Isle of Palms. The idea of creating with minimal environmental impact and direct use of nature as a canvas, greatly excited me.
Originally I thought the Isle of Palms would have an abundance of large leafed plants but I struggled to find any around the place in Wild Dunes. However, in a Target parking lot about 15 minutes away, I found an American Sweetgum tree. I harvested several leaves and placed on my back porch in full SC coastal sun. Nothing. All turned brown with no hint of the images. The next day I collected specimens from some adjacent stores to the Target and from a nearby park several different kinds of leaves (Giant Leopard plant, pickerelweed (35-45 SPAD), Japanese Aralia (55-70), and a chindo viburnum (45-65 SPAD) (or young magnolia (45-60 SPAD)). I spotted elephant ear plants (45-55 SPAD) in a landscaped garden bed in front of a Hilton hotel and received permission to harvest a couple leaves along with some Canna lilly leaves. After at least 3 hours of sun on back porch, the elephant ear and chindo vibrunum/young magnolia showed some success. Also had stems in water or wrapped in a water saturated paper towel.
Day 3, I tried using leaves from yesterday whose stems had been soaking in water overnight.
Here's a gallery to my set up and initial failed attempts with a couple successes.
Originally I thought the Isle of Palms would have an abundance of large leafed plants but I struggled to find any around the place in Wild Dunes. However, in a Target parking lot about 15 minutes away, I found an American Sweetgum tree. I harvested several leaves and placed on my back porch in full SC coastal sun. Nothing. All turned brown with no hint of the images. The next day I collected specimens from some adjacent stores to the Target and from a nearby park several different kinds of leaves (Giant Leopard plant, pickerelweed (35-45 SPAD), Japanese Aralia (55-70), and a chindo viburnum (45-65 SPAD) (or young magnolia (45-60 SPAD)). I spotted elephant ear plants (45-55 SPAD) in a landscaped garden bed in front of a Hilton hotel and received permission to harvest a couple leaves along with some Canna lilly leaves. After at least 3 hours of sun on back porch, the elephant ear and chindo vibrunum/young magnolia showed some success. Also had stems in water or wrapped in a water saturated paper towel.
Day 3, I tried using leaves from yesterday whose stems had been soaking in water overnight.
Here's a gallery to my set up and initial failed attempts with a couple successes.
