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Ways to wellbeing

Cyanotype postcards

Make postcards using cyanotype, an easy photographic process that requires inexpensive chemicals.

  • Goal: Connect with natureFind a new hobby or interestGet creative
  • Location: Outdoors
  • Group Size: By myself
  • Estimated reading or watching time: Over three minutes
  • Type: Instructor-led learning, Video
  • From: Scarlett Rebecca
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Seven postcards with blue and white patterns are pinned to a long string that's attached to a wooden fence. Mountains are in the background.

This tool was developed as part of Cultural Cwtsh, which was an online creative wellbeing hub for the health and care workforce in Wales, created by the Arts Council of Wales in collaboration with artists across the country.

In partnership with the Arts Council of Wales, we’re excited to share this mental wellbeing tool, alongside with many other creative resources, with everyone in Wales!

The cyanotype process is fantastic for sparking your creativity and engaging with your surroundings.

In this workshop, you’ll be using sunshine to make your postcards.

Cyanotype is a relatively simple photographic process that requires easily accessible and cheap chemicals.

Once you’ve mixed up your cyanotype solution, you can head outside for a walk to start collecting materials to use with your cyanotypes or to inspire the writing on your postcards.

The cyanotype process gives us an excuse to stop, and be still, and to just sit and think while the cyanotype slowly changes colour.

Download the cyanotype process notes (PDF).

About Scarlett Rebecca

I’m an artist and printmaker based in North Wales.

As I work from home, I find it is incredibly important for my mental health to get outside as much as possible; to escape the workplace, to change my perspective and to just get some fresh air and vitamin D.

I don’t often create landscape artwork; I’m terrible at drawing landscapes, but I find making cyanotypes a great way to use parts of the landscape itself to inspire a print.

Videos shot by Sam Walton.

Preparation and coating papers
Exposing and developing photograms
Exposing and developing contact prints

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Senior mother and her daughter watering plants together with a watering can
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Woman taking a selfie at Henrhyd Falls