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Cyanotype Workshop

Program Type:

Arts & Crafts, DIY Workshops

Age Group:

Teens (12+), Adults
  • Registration is required for this event.
  • Registration will open on May 1, 2026 @ 10:00am.
  • This event is for registrants age 12 to Over 18.

Event Details

The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives is partnering with Blue Leaf Prints, a local artist, to bring you a cyanotype workshop! Cyanotypes are a creative and fun way to preserve memories and make art. Join us to explore the cyanotype process!

To put it simply, cyanotypes are created by mixing two specific solutions together, applying the mixture to a surface (such as paper or fabric), placing a photo negative or object(s) on top, and then exposing your creation to UV light (sunlight). Any of the mixture that is exposed to light will turn a beautiful shade of blue. A well-known example of this process can be seen in blueprints. 

For more in-depth information about the cyanotype process, check out the Graphics Atlas, a resource created by the Image Permanence Institute of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Cyanotypes held by the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives that have been digitized can be viewed through PastPerfect. 

What To Expect: 
-We will discuss the history of cyanotypes briefly. 
-The process of creating a digital photo negative will be demonstrated. 
-Participants will create their own cyanotypes from their choice of personal photo(s) and/or various objects.
-Participants will have the option to share their work with the group. 
-Participants will leave with around 2-3 completed cyanotypes. 

Registration is required (see below)
Once registered, participants will be asked to provide photos for staff to convert into negatives that will be used to create your cyanotypes during the workshop. More information about photo submission will be provided through email to registered participants.

About Morgan Harrison (Blue Leaf Prints)
Morgan Harrison received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022, and now works as a photographer, print maker, designer and illustrator based out of the Shenandoah Valley. He creates work using digital, analogue, and experimental photographic processes, drawing, relief print making, and collage. Morgan’s work centers on themes of the human spirit and our relationship with the world around us.

Questions?
Direct any questions to Nova Kulakowski, Archives Associate. 
Email: archives@handleyregional.org
Phone: 540-662-9041, ext. 17