Sad Dorothy among the Poppies
This project has been in the works for probably 3 years. One day when I was in the shower (where I get my best ideas) I had the vision of a sad, disheveled Dorothy standing in a field of poppies. I was going to borrow a costume from a neighbor and have my daughter model for me but then one day I remembered "I" am her!!!
So I went searching for the photo of me as Dorothy for Halloween when I was 8 years old. Sad, disheveled Dorothy. Wearing a handmade costume and a bad attitude.
I had a terrible time getting the negative right so I would shelf the project many times over the years but it never left the dark corner of my mind where she lived.
Well, I finally got it!
I might print another one and add some red in with watercolors or print it in fabric and add red stitches. But that could also take me another 3 years so for today I will call her complete.
Scroll through for the original photo.
18”x24” Original cyanotype print on 300g watercolor paper.
** Listing is for print only. Frame for illustration purposes and is not included.
Each print is an original and the cyanotype chemicals are individually handpainted on the paper, so the tones will give subtle variations among prints. The beauty of cyanotypes is that each print is perfectly imperfect and unique.
About cyanotype:
A cyanotype (sun-print) is light sensitive photographic print that dates back to the 1840’s. I create my art by painting a light sensitive solution onto watercolor paper. The paper is covered with transparent film negatives that I create from my photographs and other organic material that I have pressed. I then expose the surface to sunlight. Whatever is on the surface, plants or a negative, blocks the light and the remaining paper that is exposed to sunlight will be chemically altered. Finally, the print is washed with water which rinses off the remaining chemicals and results in a deep Prussian blue color.
Copyright 2025 Stevie Oliver
Sad Dorothy among the Poppies
This project has been in the works for probably 3 years. One day when I was in the shower (where I get my best ideas) I had the vision of a sad, disheveled Dorothy standing in a field of poppies. I was going to borrow a costume from a neighbor and have my daughter model for me but then one day I remembered "I" am her!!!
So I went searching for the photo of me as Dorothy for Halloween when I was 8 years old. Sad, disheveled Dorothy. Wearing a handmade costume and a bad attitude.
I had a terrible time getting the negative right so I would shelf the project many times over the years but it never left the dark corner of my mind where she lived.
Well, I finally got it!
I might print another one and add some red in with watercolors or print it in fabric and add red stitches. But that could also take me another 3 years so for today I will call her complete.
Scroll through for the original photo.
18”x24” Original cyanotype print on 300g watercolor paper.
** Listing is for print only. Frame for illustration purposes and is not included.
Each print is an original and the cyanotype chemicals are individually handpainted on the paper, so the tones will give subtle variations among prints. The beauty of cyanotypes is that each print is perfectly imperfect and unique.
About cyanotype:
A cyanotype (sun-print) is light sensitive photographic print that dates back to the 1840’s. I create my art by painting a light sensitive solution onto watercolor paper. The paper is covered with transparent film negatives that I create from my photographs and other organic material that I have pressed. I then expose the surface to sunlight. Whatever is on the surface, plants or a negative, blocks the light and the remaining paper that is exposed to sunlight will be chemically altered. Finally, the print is washed with water which rinses off the remaining chemicals and results in a deep Prussian blue color.
Copyright 2025 Stevie Oliver
