This 20” x 24” handmade mixed-media artwork was created in many steps using eco-friendly processes. I made an edition of three variations, using different plants to make photograms and botanical prints for each one, making each one unique

It started with growing a pollinator-friendly garden with milkweed to support the monarch butterfly migration. Then I photographed the pollinator and milkweed garden in July with a large format film camera. I picked some dye plants and flowers I grew in the garden to use in the finished artwork! I developed the film in the darkroom and chose the best negative to print. I had to prepare everything by mixing the non-toxic chemistry, loading the negative in the enlarger and focusing the image. Then I tested the exposure to determine the correct time. Then I put the silver gelatin paper into the easel and laid the dye plants and flowers on the bottom to form a photogram. Then the magic happens! I exposed the light-sensitive paper to light and developed it.

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Next I used mordants, heat, and moisture to transfer the pigments from the dye plants and flowers into the white areas left from laying them on the silver gelatin paper. These areas were left white because the light from the enlarger is blocked by the plants.

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After washing the prints carefully I mixed up 4 beautiful shades of green watercolor based on my recollection of the colors of the milkweed. I used these to paint the milkweed because I want it to stand out visually in the artwork. I want to emphasize it because it is the only plant the monarch caterpillars can eat.

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I dove into my photographic archive and printed these lovely photographs I previously took of monarch butterflies and a chrysalis on vellum. I applied gold metal leaf to the back of these, sealed them and collaged them to the artwork to complete it!