MAKE••• A Botanical Print!
Surprisingly simple, with really beautiful results.
The ratio of effort (very low) to effect (way high) here is remarkable, and it’s a fantastic excuse to get hands on with leaves and flowers in your life.
COLLECT
••• paintbrush
••• acrylic paint
••• paper
••• leaves
••• flowers
••• paper towels
••• water
(to rinse your paintbrush)
Process
Collect flowers and leaves!*
Brush a thin-but-thorough layer of paint over one side of a leaf or flower.
Figuring out how much paint takes a bit of practice! If it’s too thick, you’ll lose details and end up with a blob; try to do a coat, then brush away any gloopy bits.
*Gently* turn the leaf or flower over onto your paper, paint side down.
*Gently* place a paper towel over your leaf or flower.
*Gently* press over the shape of the leaf or flower — think little soft taps. (No rubbing! Rubbing will smear the paint.)
*Gently* lift up the paper towel.
*Gently* lift up the leaf or flower.
Admire your print!
* Be respectful. Never collect anything from a garden or park where you don’t have permission, and only collect if there’s an abundance of plants.
Good to know
There is so so so so much flora variety out there! Look for unique textures (slick and shiny, soft and fuzzy, rough and tough), a range of sizes and shapes, and a mix of veins and edges and petals and more.
Many types of leaves and flowers can be used for multiple prints — with or without a fresh coat of paint.
Different compositions of leaves and flowers, plus different color combos of paint, can make a few cuttings into an entire collection of prints.
There are endless ways to use your prints! Wall decor, postcards, gift tags, greeting cards, etc times infinity.
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