Chemigrams

A chemigram is a one-off abstract image made on photographic paper without a camera. Instead of taking a picture, you paint the paper with a resist, such as wax, oil or varnish, then dip it in photographic chemicals in ordinary light. The chemicals react around the resist, leaving swirling, painterly patterns that are part photograph, part painting.

No two ever come out the same, which is half the fun, and every print is a true original.

Photographic paper is coated with light-sensitive silver salts. Developer turns exposed areas dark, and fixer makes the image stable so it stops changing. A resist blocks the chemicals from reaching parts of the paper. By dipping the paper back and forth between developer and fixer, and adding, scratching or peeling away resist as you go, you build up layers of tone and texture. Finished chemigrams can look like marble, galaxies, rock or cells under a microscope.

You can. Alongside traditional darkroom chemicals, some photographers make gentler, plant-based developers from household ingredients. One well-known recipe, often called caffenol, uses instant coffee, washing soda and vitamin C powder. Homemade developers can give warm, earthy tones and a less predictable finish, which suits the experimental spirit of chemigrams nicely.

All three are types of camera-less photography, but they work differently. A photogram is made by placing objects on photographic paper and exposing it to light, leaving their silhouettes behind. A cyanotype uses an iron-based coating that turns deep blue in sunlight. A chemigram is all about the chemistry and the resist, so it feels closer to painting or printmaking, with a generous helping of happy accidents.

Perfect, because nobody fully controls a chemigram anyway. You don't need to know a thing about photography, or be able to draw. Your Activity Leader shows you how to apply the resist and when to dip, then it's over to you. Drip, smear, scratch and see what happens. The magic is in watching the patterns appear, and that reveal never gets old. Artistic genius optional, curiosity essential.

You might also like Lino Printing, Screen Printing and Shibori Tie Dye.

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