Polaroid emulsion lift with watercolor underpainting on watercolor paper.

These pieces begin with an image captured on polaroid film using a vintage sx-70 Polaroid camera. Through a process of immersion in hot and then cold water the image, which is secured in a gel-like emulsion, is lifted off of the plastic backing. The image floats freely in the water, before being placed to dry on watercolor paper. Often I prepare the paper with a watercolor underpainting to highlight some of the elements of the image In a more traditional process, the artist would smooth out the image completely. I, however, like to keep some of the wrinkles, to capture the movement that happens in the emulsion lift process so that the fluidity that I enjoy so much in the process is not lost in the final product.

Calm was created with an overexposed polaroid that got a bit too much sun, the image is slight; allowing the ripples of the thin film to stand out. The watercolor underpainting has a casual feel, applied with a wet on wet technique.

Painting/photograph size: approx. 3x3"
Framed dimensions: 9.75" x 9.75" x 1.75"