Seaweed Pressings
Silk Paintings
Watercolor Paintings
Yupo Paintings
Illustrations

        Copyright © 2008
        Susan Summit Cyr

The seaweeds that wash up in drifts along the shore offer a tantalizing glimpse into the richness of life below the waves. Most temperate waters of the world support a tremendous variety and quantity of plants from delicate fern-like algaes to robust kelps which can grow over 55 meters long and form vast kelp forests.

I created the images featured here from seaweed that I have collected from west coast shores. I collect only plants that have washed ashore on public beaches and are no longer living. I am careful to select limited numbers of small pieces so as not to affect the ecosystem that they are part of and that I so treasure. (I also hold a Washington State shellfish and seaweed license).

I then arrange the wet seaweed on archival paper and slowly dry it during which time the seaweed actually fuses to the paper. Once dry, the seaweeds are treated with a UV protectant to ensure against fading.

The resulting image is a durable and unique original—literally, a piece of the sea.

The copyrights to the images on this website belong to Susan Summit Cyr. They may not be reproduced, modified, distributed, or publicly displayed without the express permission of the artist.
Site design copyright © 2008 Susan Summit Cyr