The serene blue color palette of the cyanotype conjures the inner peace Ivana experiences through connecting with the life giving capacities of the earth, through cultivation and care of her organic garden.
To connect the themes in her project to the history of American vegetable gardening, especially the WWII era victory gardens, where Americans grew 60% of their produce during the war, Ivana creates prints with a vintage aesthetic. She evokes a sense of nostalgia for a time when more people grew food in the backyard and community gardens by using an analog 8" x 10" camera to record in exquisite detail the tender care given to the garden and the beautiful fruits and vegetables she gets in return. These limited edition prints are handmade cyanotypes on cotton paper containing 65% recycled fiber. To learn more, click here to read the full artist statement about the Sustain Series.
Watch This Video To Discover the Cyanotype Process
Planting Parcel in April
Planting Parcel in April
Envison gently nestling a parcel seedling into cool, damp April soil, careful not to disturb its delicate roots. Can you imagine the fresh celery-parsley scent in the air and the smooth, crisp stalks you'll harvest in weeks to come? Picture the cool spring wind kissing your face and the earthy smell of soil as you work. Are you already anticipating the tender young leaves in salads and hearty stalks enriching your soup stocks? In this peaceful moment of planting, you feel the profound exchange between gardener and plant, knowing the tender care you give will return to you as abundant harvest and nourishment. The white silhouette of the gardener's hand gently pressing the soil around the seedling in place contrasts against the soft focus serene Prussian blue background of this handmade cyanotype print. This artwork expresses the meditative quality of planting, the generous reciprocity between gardener and earth, and the adventure of growing versatile, lesser-known vegetables that reward curiosity with delicious flavors.
Envision this peaceful artwork in your kitchen or dining room, where it celebrates the joy of discovering unusual vegetables and culinary versatility. Guests ask about parcel with curiosity, intrigued by this celery-parsley hybrid they've never tried, while fellow gardeners appreciate the spirit of growing beyond the ordinary. The piece connects to that universal satisfaction of nurturing plants that give back far more than we offer them. This artwork celebrates the tranquil exchange between tender care and generous harvest and the rewarding adventure of growing multi-purpose vegetables that nourish us in countless ways.
“If you have never tried it, the parcel is like a cross between celery and parsley. You can use the stalks in place of celery in soup stocks. The young leaves can be enjoyed in salads and anywhere parsley is used.”
This signed and numbered handmade cyanotype contact print is created using the historic cyanotype process on archival watercolor paper, ensuring both longevity and connection to photographic traditions dating back to the 1840s. As part of the Sustain series, this piece represents my commitment to using sustainable, light-sensitive processes that align with the environmental values depicted in the artwork itself. Each cyanotype is hand coated with a hand crafted light sensitive iron based emulsion in the darkroom, exposed in UV light, and developed in vinegar water. This process introduces subtle variations in brushmarks along the edges and tone that are integral to this historic process. Due to the handmade nature of cyanotype printing, no two prints are exactly identical. The watermark is only for internet display and will not be on your artwork. The artwork comes unframed. This artwork is available in a limited edition of 15 at 8"x 10", 3 at 20" x 24", 2 at 24" x 30" +1 AP at each size. Each piece is signed and numbered. If you need help to envison how it will look a free digital mockup is available so you can see exactly how it will look in your space before adding it to your collection. Contact Ivana for this service.
Currently no. 1/15 is available for you to enjoy.
