nattieconcepts: June 2015

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Cats Claw - The Positives, The Negatives & The Biscuits

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I’ve always loved cat’s claw.

A vine known in these parts more as an invasive and pesky weed than a medicinal herb with healing properties, cat’s claw is by far one of my favorite lumen print subjects. Its claw-like tendrils never fail to fascinate me. Even when entwined with every object in sight. The prevalence of it in my world led me to start creating lumen prints from it early on.


Cats Claw & Vine, Crescent City Illumenations

Oddly enough, it turns out that my actual cats claws have the same healing affect.Who woulda thunk?

Rhoda

As many in my inner circle know, and by inner circle I mean - Facebook, Rhoda left this world last month after a short battle with cancer. She leaves behind nearly 15 years of loving, fun and adventurous memories, tons of photos and her presence will always be felt .

She also left behind some of her cat claws.

Rhodas Claws found about the house

It dawned on me after this posthumous find, that with its regenerative properties, a cats claw makes a purrrfect lumen subject. After all, I’m always searching for fallen flowers and leaves (and the occasional bug) to give them new life via a lumen print. Plus I like to match. Cats claw, the vine, is one of my favorite lumen print subjects. Rhoda's my favorite photo subject. Why not combine the two?

Due to claws being So Tiny (despite the scratches & scars), and in keeping with the circumstances of this new lumen extravaganza, I decided to create a Positive from a Negative, and print these claws on film as lumen negatives. So now the claws can appear larger than life (which is more accurate as to how they feel).