Alpha cygni variables are a series of cyanoypes that are one outcome of an artist’s residency I took part in with Mayes Creative on the theme of ‘Starlight’, where we explored the star constellation Cygnus. This prompted me to investigate our relationship with swans, particularly in London, where it is nearly impossible to view the star constellation, but there are many opportunities to see real swans in the many parks. Photos I took of swans are digitally layered with screen prints I had made of the Milky Way, and then turned into cyanotypes (sun prints), to create these celestial circles.
The pieces with a warm yellow tint behind the swan images are two layered cyanotypes, where the first layer is bleached with soda crystals, and a secondary layer of the blue cyanotype printed over the top.
Variable stars are stars whose brightness changes with time, as seen from earth, and Alpha cygni variables exhibit non-radial pulses. I liked the idea that they fluctuate, much like the cyanotype process, meaning each print is slightly different.