Cyanotype is a process that creates a cyan blue print through exposure to UV light. It is a classic exposure process that has been around since the 1800s, however, Terri Dilling’s unique painterly approach transforms a traditional method into a contemporary expression. Dilling paints the cyanotype fluid onto high quality archival papers, similar to painting with ink. The work is exposed outside in the sun and then rinsed in water. After that, she uses a variety of toning methods and multiple exposure layers to achieve visual depth and variation within the medium.
“I love this means of directly using sun and water to create my art,” says Dilling. “It is a collaboration with nature. The weather and the season actually have an affect on the resulting exposures.”
Dilling works in several different series, each one with a meaning or metaphor at its root. For instance, the “Blue Suspension Series” and “Blue Strata Series” involve draping and crossing lines that explore movement and balance. The "Blue Cluster Series” relates to organizational groupings and connections, and the “Turn the Corner Series” is about facing change and new directions. Her work has a bold design, yet also contains complex layers and details.
Terri Dilling has been using cyanotype in her work for many years. She is an Atlanta-basted artist who received a BA from Indiana University, a BFA from Georgia State University, and has also studied visual arts in England, Spain, and Italy. Dilling has received numerous grants and awards, and her work is in many public and private collections around the world.