Debra Small: Botanicals, A Fanciful World

As a biologist and artist, Debra Small’s interests and artwork migrate to the environment and natural world, from the tiniest belly flowers to vast landscapes. The Botanicals portfolio elevates the simple plant materials found in nature to a more mystical and fanciful realm.

These images are one-of-a-kind works of art created using the alternative photographic process technique of wet cyanotype photograms. Photograms are a camera-less form of photography that uses objects placed in direct contact with the photographic sensitizing chemicals and exposure to light to create the final image.  Although the process of cyanotype photograms has existed since 1842, this contemporary version allows the artist to push the envelope of creativity by using natural dyestuffs and other materials added to the wet cyanotype chemistry, exposing the image to light while everything is wet. These exposures can last 30 minutes up to 4 hours or more to create the imagery. With minimal control over the end product and a non-traditional color pallet, each image is a unique piece of artwork.