LAVANDA MIRELES

These cyanotypes are made by painting photosensitive chemicals on canvas and exposing plants, coins, glass, sea fans, sand dollars and bracelets, among other found objects on top of the canvas.

What makes my prints unique, is my painterly and gestural approach to applying the cyanotype chemical. I often depict surreal figures and faces. Because I do not have a dark room, I paint after sundown in the dark with a red light head lamp, and let it dry over night. Before the sun comes up in the morning, I place the work in UV protected film changing bags and store under black out curtains to keep them from as much UV exposure as possible. They are stored this way until I am ready to expose the found objects outside.