For the second consecutive year, Risedale School pupils once again embraced the power of the sun in a captivating cyanotype workshop held on Wednesday, 25th June. This special session included pupils who were instrumental in supporting the school's Pride celebrations this June and those who consistently go above and beyond to care for others in the school community. Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, the workshop saw these pupils explore this fascinating alternative photography technique for the first time, led by Design & Technology Teacher Mrs Vizor and returning visiting artist Elaine Vizor.

The workshop introduced the historical roots of cyanotypes, also known as blueprints. This process, invented by Sir John Herschel in the 1840s, was originally used for reproducing scientific documents. This distinctive early photographic method utilises light-sensitive iron salts to create striking blue and white images.

"It was wonderful to see the group engage with the cyanotype process," Mrs Vizor commented. "Having my Mum, Elaine, return to guide them through this unique art form made it an even richer experience. The pupils really enjoyed themselves, and the cyanotypes they produced this year were truly impressive."

The session began with Elaine Vizor introducing the cyanotype process to the pupils. They started by creating small cyanotypes on specialised photosensitive paper, familiarising themselves with the technique. As their confidence grew, they progressed to larger-scale projects, experimenting with different materials and expanding on the techniques.

Elaine Vizor shared her enthusiasm for the group: "It was a fantastic experience working with the Risedale pupils. It's incredibly rewarding to see their enthusiasm for this art form, and their creativity shone through in the diverse range of designs they produced. We covered a lot of ground, and it was clear they were a highly engaged and motivated group of young people. It was also incredibly rewarding to see my daughter, Mrs Vizor, continuing to inspire the next generation through art and textiles, especially when recognising such positive contributions to the school community."

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