I used the bacteria titled LB 11 which later on turned blue. The restrictions of painting with bacteria is the element of surprise and unpredictability that comes with painting with a living form. Although, I was cautious with the outside environment affecting my bacteria’s success I didn’t truly consider how temperature would affect how my paint would appear. My hypothesis was that all my paints would turn out perfectly with minor complications due to my meticulousness of handling the paint, I expected each petri dish to turn out exactly as how I placed my illustration.
I used the petri dish labeled LB 11. The components that alter the perception of the artwork would be the texture of the canvas itself. Due to it being made of agar, it takes on a jelly-like form, this affecting the pressure on which the brush can handled and consequently comprising the detail of the painting. Moreover, due to it being clear, painting with the clear solution of bacteria is rather challenging.
I only used a brush, due to the ultimate control it offered. Rather than use use beads or a cotton bud, I opted for a brush due to the delicacy of how it would handle the bacteria and provide a controlled effect. Due to my familiarity of using brushes I could predict how the stroke would look like despite the paint being transparent. I was hoping to influence layering with the brush, by first putting a light wash the waiting and going over it again with the paint.
When painting with bacteria, I would ensure that no cross contamination occurs with the brush’s and different types of bacteria. Bacteria is unique it it’s dense that it dually controlled and free. It has a mind of its own but stays within the boundaries I set down for it. I believe that natural landscapes or nature in general would be the best to convey with bacteria. Bacterial paint is a great way to sustainability explore art in a manner that is not harmful to the environment.
