What is a Bromoil?

A bromoil is a pigment print photographic process that results in a one of a kind image. Bromoilists combine graphic arts, photography, and painting. Color or digital images may be beautiful but they are fundamentally a product of a machine, whereas a gelatin silver print or bromoil possesses the personal touch so prized by art lovers.

It was used by the pictorialists in the early 20th century. It’s a labor intensive process that begins with a black and white photograph printed especially for a bromoil. This print is then bleached and tanned to remove the silver image. Permanent lithographic ink is then stippled onto this matrix using a hogsfoot brush. By manipulation of the brush and the ink I can vary the texture and mood of a print. The process allows unlimited creative and artistic expression. The image may be impressionistic, abstract, or silky smooth but always showing the ephemeral light that no other process allows. I limit the number of bromoils from each negative to just six, but no two interpretations will ever be alike. Each image in the edition is unique and cannot be duplicated.