Opening Reception: Saturday, Aug 10, 4:00-6:00

Claudia Hollister: Beyond the Blues: An exhibition of Cyanotypes and collage

Artist Statement : Beyond the Blues

Beyond the Blues has stretched my vision of creating cyanotype collages in scale and scope. This is the first time introducing hand tinted colors to my work. It was a long process to find the right mediums to give me the desired effects, ultimately, alcohol inks were chosen for the transparency and the watercolor for its rich opacity.

My process involves alchemy, nature, artistic license, technology, and timing. During COVID lockdown I started documenting my garden. I photograph in my studio in natural light using my iPhone, then create a negative, printed on transparency film. The film is placed under glass, on paper coated with a UV sensitive solution, and set in the sun until it is developed. Dropping the exposed paper in water, watching the magic as the print oxidizes and the positive image appears.

This is the fourth year documenting the cycle of seasonal blooms in a uniquely beautiful and sometimes mysterious format. I continue to bring a new perspective to this historic process. As I expand my vision into creating a vintage modern feel ranging in depth of color and compositions using garden flowers.

Visual Poetry consists of cyanotype collages that show case my garden flowers and collection of antique vessels. The floral narratives are enhanced by the use of paper backgrounds often printed with unusual materials. The Muses,Mermaids and Nymphs, are sweet small framed cyanotype collages. They consist of direct contact prints from plants in the background and photographic prints in the foreground.

My garden is my sanctuary where I go for pleasure, to remember those I love, and to find solace. This show is dedicated to my sister Laura who recently past, but not before seeing her beautiful garden one last time.