A "Portfolio" For Artmaking On the Go!

Over the years, I have gone through some drama about making art while on vacation. 

First I had to admit I was plagued by what I called "The Shoulds"(as in, I should do this or that.)

Then, I had to relinquish how I labeled and limited myself as an artist, and learn how to play.

Finally, I figured out the perfect set up for my art supplies.

​So, on our most recent Mexican vacation, I seem to have finally cracked the code to happy artmaking while traveling.

​In fact, I have even elevated my experience into a personal, mini art retreat!

Not a bad life, eh?

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The "Portfolio"

In the past I have made a sort of "sketchbook" with various papers held in a temporary binding that I eventually bound as a finished "artist book." This time I didn't want to think of it in those terms, but decided to make myself a sort of "portfolio." 

I made a beautiful cover from a "failed" cyanotype and a strip of blue and white cloth. Inside the covers I glued some reproductions of traditional Japanese woodcuts. 

Then I filled it with various papers, folded over and held in with elastic bands. But I also included some loose papers, including some cyanotypes and stenciled experiments I had laying around that I could paint and draw on top of. Just for fun. 

A "failed" cyanotype

Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic printing process. It involves painting chemicals on paper (or cloth, or even glass,) then placing something on that paper and exposing it to UV light, such as the sun. Whatever is exposed to the light will turn a gorgeous Prussian blue.

I brought a measuring cup, bowl, and foam brush, plus the chemicals in a couple of travel shampoo bottles. 

I could only paint the chemicals on the paper at night.

​After applying the chemicals, they must dry in a dark place away from UV light. Where to put them in a hotel room?

​Ah! My empty suitcases!

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The Experiments

I had lots of fun experimenting with laying my hands on the cyanotypes and seeing what happened. 

Sprinkling water on the cyanotypes while they were being exposed makes a beautiful speckled effect. 

With this one I had two passes- first one you see on the left. Then I added more chemical in the middle of the hand, placed a plant on it and exposed it again. 

​In this one I wrote the lyrics of a 1984 Laurie Anderson song, Hothead.

One of the themes I am interested in are ornate gilt frames. I think that if you put anything in an ornate gold frame, that thing attains an it air of legitimacy and importance. Before leaving to Mexico, I happened to by playing with some frame stencils. So, I just popped them into my portfolio.


I wondered what a cyanotype would look like in the stenciled frames.

I was having such fun with water and hands, I decided to see what a big ol' wet hand print would look like. 

Another theme I am investigating is things coming undone or unraveled. I have been learning to crochet, largely so I can make imperfect, unraveling doilies. (I’m not sure where I’m going with this concept, but it seems juicy!) I brought an undone doily with me and made a cyanotype from that. 

After, I drew a self portrait with white gel pen integrated with the cyanotype.

After, I drew a self portrait with white gel pen integrated with the cyanotype. 

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I also took some cyanotype experiments from home and drew all over them- just for fun. 

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 Pile It All On!

This last one is two sides of the same paper. It is a combination of:

• Cyanotype on top of stencil
• A bleached and tinted cyanotype
• Stenciled frames
• Watercolor pencil

All torn up and collaged together. 

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Serious Play

I don't know if I will actually use any of this in my project Atlas, but I do know that the ideas and associations I forged during my time of "play" will serve me in ways seen and unseen. 

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Below is a video of my portfolio before and after my mini art retreat.