Gumoil Explained:
Gumoil is an alternative photo processing technique invented by the late Karl Koenig in the 1990's.
Here's the process, in brief (photos included below):
1. Print a photograph on transparent paper
2. Get yourself some heavy duty watercolor paper
3. Mix up your photo sensitizer using gum arabic and potassium bichromate. Spread that on the watercolor paper. Let it dry.
4. Place your transparent photograph on top of the dried watercolor paper with the sensitizer on it.
5. Place that arrangement in the sun or a UV light box for the right amount of time. The UV cooks the gum arabic onto the watercolor paper. UV will not penetrate the blacks in the photo, but it will penetrate the white/lighter greys.
6. Peel off your transparent photo and see the gumoil negative you just made
7. Develop that puppy in water- rinse off the gumoil that didn't cook on the paper. Let it dry.
8. Smear oil paint all over your newly created gumoil negative
9. Wipe it off. Keep going until you see your image!
10. Now you can decide if you want to etch it, leave it, rinse it, or repeat and add more color. Gumoil is still in its infancy. The possibilities are endless.
Here's a few photos of the process:
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