In thinking about how to introduce Naiads Realm, I felt I needed to create portals of some kind to enter this new realm. Or is it an old realm? An imagined realm? A very real realm? Maybe it's all of those things. Naiads Realm to me is my imaginary land that collides with the universal Otherworld. We've all been to realms like this, and I just decided to start making clothing and art about it. So we needed a door in, and these pieces are my attempt at that. Naiads Realm begins with portals: an entrance into this magical world.
To create these pieces, I first took some of my favorite magical photos that I've taken and created digital collages with them, adding portal doorways to frame them. I then printed negatives of the images on transparency sheets and made cyanotypes with them on fabric. I then sewed the cyanotypes onto vintage pieces from my collection and embroidered and beaded over them.
After years of experimenting with cyanotypes, I'm so excited to finally be making these blue beauties for my shop. The interplay between water and sunlight that is needed to execute this process felt perfect for my new watery realm. I so hope they find the right homes and that they bring some naiads magic to someone!
