Discover the world of botanical block printing through an approachable guide that unveils a plethora of practical techniques and processes. This guide invites you to create stunning prints inspired by the natural world, all crafted by your own hands.
Recent years have seen a surge in the popularity of linocut and woodcut printmaking. People are finding joy in working with their hands again, and these methods make it easy – it's possibly the only printmaking medium you can do easily on the kitchen table at home.
Botanical Block Printing is your companion on the journey of crafting relief prints from scratch, always with a botanical theme and beautifully presented in, printmaker and author, Rosanna Morris' contemporary and gentle aesthetic.
Richly photographed, the book is a practical how-to guide covering getting set up, what you need, equipment and so on, followed by a comprehensive introduction to processes and techniques. You'll even learn how to make your own botanical inks, adding a personal touch to your creations. Step-by-step projects including making block prints on both paper and fabric are included and there are interviews with fellow printmakers who specialise in natural subjects.
Bound with a special exposed-spine binding allows the book to lay (and stay) open without any bending whilst it's being used as an instructional manual. The inside flap extends outwards to reveal an accurate ruler; handy to have nearby for when measurements are needed. The flap can then be folded inwards again, to bookmark a page and come back to a project later on. Finished with a burnt-orange thread running through the spine for an organic touch, this book is a real hands-on experience that's both durable and artistically crafted.
Above all, this is a beautiful and visually inspiring book unlike any other on the market.
- Tools & Materials
- Getting Set Up
- Drawing and Transferring to a Block
- Printing on Paper
- Printing on Fabric
- Using Colour
- Creating and Using Botanical Inks
Rosanna Morris is a printmaker and Illustrator based in Bristol. She teaches printmaking and botanical drawing at art schools including the Bristol Drawing School at the Royal West of England Academy and runs her own sell-out botanical printmaking courses. She has been making large-scale botanical-themed woodcuts and linocuts since she was nineteen. In 2016 she co-founded Cato Press, a community printmaking studio. In 2022, Rosanna won the Modern Crafter Award from Holly Tucker, founder of Not On The High Street. Botanical Block Printing is her debut craft book.