Scanned Nature: Where Analog Meets Digital

My current work combines the textures of traditional drawing media, cyanotype prints, and the transformative power of digital manipulation. I begin by creating drawings inspired by nature, often focusing on organic shapes and forms. Additionally, I incorporate cyanotype prints of local flora, using the historical photographic process to capture the intricate details of plant life in rich, deep blue tones.

The drawings and cyanotypes are then transformed as they are scanned into digital images on a computer. During scanning, I push and pull the drawings and prints over the scanner as it works, distorting the imagery in real time. The scanner acts as a bridge between the physical and digital realms, transforming both analog mediums into a new form. Using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop, I further manipulate the scanned images—warping, stretching, and transforming them once again. Simple lines and cyanotype textures morph into complex patterns, mimicking the natural world's tendency toward intricate details. Layering and stacking different scans creates a sense of depth and movement, reminiscent of a bustling ecosystem or cityscape.

The interplay between analog and digital media creates a unique aesthetic. The textures and imperfections of the original drawings and cyanotype prints, as well as the textures of the paper, are preserved in the digital scan. This adds a sense of history and physicality to the artwork, even though it primarily exists in the digital realm. The imperfections, graininess of the cyanotypes, and roughness of the hand-drawn lines are highlighted as they are manipulated in Photoshop, enhancing the tactile quality of the final digital image.

The source material for these scanned drawings and prints often comes from the natural world. I draw inspiration from the intricate patterns found in nature—geology, water, and the cellular structures of living organisms. Cyanotype prints of local flora further ground the work in its environment, capturing the organic beauty of plants in a photographic form that complements the hand-drawn elements.

Organic shapes are a defining characteristic of my work. These shapes, unlike geometric forms with sharp edges and perfect symmetry, are inspired by the natural world's inherent curves and imperfections. They evoke a sense of growth, movement, and transformation.

The final product is a juxtaposition of digital hi-fi and analog lo-fi. The recognizable forms of nature, from hand-drawn shapes to cyanotype prints of flora, are transformed into something new and unexpected, evoking a sense of glitches in the universe. 

distorted drawings