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
Root Vegetable Harvest in August
Root Vegetable Harvest in August
Picture feeling the satisfying resistance give way as delicious root vegetables release from the soil. Can you imagine the dense weight of purple, orange, and white carrots alongside red, purple, white, and candy-striped beets filling your arms? Picture the rough soil clinging to them before you rinse them under cool water, revealing their jewel-toned colors as diamond like droplets glistening in the sun on their smooth, cool skin. The earthy scent of fresh-pulled vegetables mingles with the summer air as you admire the rainbow you've grown. The bouquet of freshly washed root vegetables with glistening water droplets still clinging to them contrasts dramatically against the deep Prussian blue background of this handmade cyanotype print. This artwork expresses the timeless beauty of freshly harvested produce and the pride in cultivating colorful heirloom varieties that nourish both body and spirit.
The edition has tiered pricing. Therefore those who invest in early edition numbers will save money and the value of the artwork will rise as the edition sells out.
Imagine this evocative artwork in your kitchen or dining room, where the vintage styling sparks conversations about our ancestors who have cultivated heirloom varieties and and about valuing locally grown food. Guests who garden share stories of their own heirloom varieties or express amazement at the rainbow of colors possible in simple root vegetables. The piece connects to that universal desire to grow what we eat and return to a time when self-sufficiency was a cherished virtue. This artwork celebrates the enduring beauty of homegrown food and the colorful abundance that rewards the gardener's care.
“The inspiration for this work is from the history of American vegetable gardening, especially the WWII era victory gardens, where Americans grew 60% of their produce during the war. That’s why you see a vintage styling in this artwork. I want to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time when more people grew food in the backyard and community gardens. However if done again it should be in the service of climate stability instead of war! “Root Vegetable Harvest in August” was one of the first works of the “Sustain” series and still one of my favorite monochromatic works from the series. I love the way the light glistens off the water droplets of the freshly harvested produce.”
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.
