Cyanotype envelopes

I’ve been experimenting with cyanotype printing on different types of found paper, and I thought envelopes could provide an interesting canvas. A recognisable shape, but also with pre printed text and logos. Blue and red contrast really nicely, so any envelope with red goes straight on the pile to be printed with.

I’ve printed on envelopes before, with some good results, the only issue is there is a real risk of jamming the printer, and getting all sorts of self adhesive flaps caught up in the delicate mechanisms.

The beauty of cyanotype is you don’t have to worry about this at all, it’s such a great medium for printing on all sorts of different types of found paper.

I focused on textures, as I felt these would work best with the constraints of an envelope. The window section won’t print, which creates issues for a lot of potential images. But these are the ones I need to use, as printing on envelopes printed with my home address does not feel like a good idea.

I’ve made four so far, and I would like to develop a full series. I actually made these quite a while ago, and just never got round to sharing them until now. I’d be interested to know if anyone else does this, but I’ll have an idea, have a go at making it. In this case printing and developing, even scan it in, and then just sit on it. I sometimes feel such a barrier to sharing it. It always feels like there have to be more, or it has to be this extended project with specific ideas behind it.