Amanda Summers McCauley

Pressed Flowers, Seaweed, Cyanotypes, Botanical Collage, Mixed Media

Studio #2
The Barn on Lopez Island
137 Forest Lane
+Handicapped accessible

amandamccauley.com
amcchiggins@mac.com
(415) 307-0137

I make works using nature’s elements to create “fantasy botanicals” or “botanical collages”. My process begins by harvesting and collecting flowers, leaves, roots, moss, and most recently, seaweeds. The materials harvested from land are deconstructed and positioned in flower presses to flatten and dry. Local seaweeds are cleaned, washed, and separated into fresh water bins. The cyanotypes or "blue works” are graphic works that are created in a dark room and "printed" using the sun. For this year’s studio tour, I’ll be showing my most recent body of work, “SEAFLORA”, which consists of fresh flowers and seaweeds together. In this collection, the elements are designed in a tank of water and photographed at a very high resolution to allow for unique, large format prints. These works have been in the making for 2.5 years.

I find inspiration in everything that surrounds me. Living in both the city and the country allows me to pull ideas from a wide variety of resources. I look to nature first, and living on Lopez Island has given me a magical playground of gifts. Here, I’m surrounded by the woods, fields, the ocean, shorelines, and incredible gardens. In New York City, I find inspiration in fashion, music, food, film and theater. But most of all, I love the art scene. The NYC galleries, museums, and street art culture are all so vibrant, and expansive. As my life and work unfolds on two extremely different islands, I have a rich canvas of materials from which to draw.