Nature Printing: 30 Projects for Creating Beautiful Prints, Wearables, and Home Furnishings [Paperback]

Laura Donnelly Bethmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Nature printing, or recreating images from the natural world, is a direct, inexpensive process with possibilities as varied as nature itself. Apply ink or paint to leaves, flowers, herbs, or fruit and print life-sized images onto paper, fabric, and other surfaces to create captivating works of art.

In full-color, simple instructions, Nature Printing covers tools, techniques, and tips for dozens of beautiful projects, including printed fabric for curtains, pillows, linens, quilts, and clothing; stationery, cards, and invitations; nature journals; and more. The book includes instructions for decorative finishes and frames, and it offers nature printing projects for children.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Since ancient times, humans have sought ways to preserve the ephemeral beauty of nature. The centuries-old technique of nature printing yields some of the most exquisite results, appearing something like a cross between pressed-flower pictures and rubber-stamped designs. And the process itself somewhat resembles a hybrid of the two crafts: plant materials are gathered and pressed for a few minutes, then inked and covered with a sheet of paper or fabric to transfer the image. Unlike pressed-flower pictures, which require relatively flat blossoms, nature prints can utilize more extravagant blooms like roses and carnations, which can be printed without pressing. Other natural materials also work: fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, leaves, seashells, feathers, even fish and spiderwebs.

Laura Donnelly Bethmann provides solid background on the basics of the technique, as well as an interesting history of the craft. She explains how to gather and prepare specimens, offers a variety of printing methods, and discusses design principles. The final chapter comprises about a dozen simple projects, including gift-wrap, notecards, and T-shirts. Bethmann's own nature prints as well as those of several other artists are scattered throughout the pages; one wishes that more of these lovely, delicate artworks were more prominently featured in this otherwise worthwhile book. --Amy Handy

From Library Journal

Nature prints are made by inking natural objects and applying them to cloth or paper in much the same way as taking fingerprints. In this wide-ranging manual of nature-printing techniques and projects, Bethmann explores a variety of techniques using inks, paint, or natural plant juices to decorate stationery, herbals, fabric pieces, and garments. A section on design and layout as it applies to leaves and flowers is included, and some unusual natural objects such as mushrooms and garden vegetables are also used. There are even instructions for traditional Japanese fish printing.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; Updated edition (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580173764
• ISBN-13: 978-1580173766
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 9.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laura Bethmann is an artist, author and master gardener. She enjoys giving presentations and workshops, but most of the time she's squirreled away at work in her southern New Jersey studio. Her third book, Hand Printing from Nature, is packed full of inspired ideas and projects for creating designs and home accessories direct from Nature herself.

Laura studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Pratt Graphics Center and Syracuse University. Her nature printing techniques have been featured on Home and Garden Television, Lifetime Television, the Discovery Channel and Good Housekeeping magazine. Laura's watercolor paintings and nature prints reveal the intrinsic qualities of nature and can be seen in galleries and museums. Visit her at laurabethmann.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for rubber stampers & paper artists, inspirational, May 2, 2000

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Nature Printing: With Herbs, Fruits & Flowers (Hardcover)

This is a must have book for anyone who collects plants and other nature items. It is also a great find for rubber stampers and other paper artists. The book is in full-color and has many illustrations.

The book starts out with a brief history of nature printing. It then details collecting, transporting, and pressing a wide variety of plants. Then paper & materials for printing and the printing process itself are discussed.

Specialized techniques for printing objects such as spider webs, shells, feathers, gyotaku (fish rubbing), Taku-ga (rubbing picture), bubble printing & cyanotype are demonstrated as well. All the instructions are easy to follow.

There are also many wonderful projects including fabric painting, wall printing & note cards. The resource guide is a nice bonus. This inexpensive craft is easy enough a child, yet rewarding for adults.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book I've been looking for!, July 11, 2000

By 

"iloveprovence" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nature Printing: With Herbs, Fruits & Flowers (Hardcover)

Do you love nature? Do you have an artisic urge? Do you think creating art is difficult or expensive? If you love nature and want to bring it to your fabrics, walls, note cards, etc. then this book would surely delight you! The Victorians loved "capturing" nature in all its innocence, beauty, and comfort. They created so many wonderful collections, decorations, etc. This wonderful addition to the craft world shows the nature lover how to use nature to enhance the tranquility of your home or surroundings. The author shows you how to use an endless bounty from the natural world plus a few printing inks and paints to illustrate your world with the panorama of nature. The techniques within this volume are so enchanting yet simple enough for children to to accomplish as well. A wonderful way to enoy summer days!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Storey title!, April 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Nature Printing: With Herbs, Fruits & Flowers (Hardcover)

Nature Printing is an enormously inspiring book. After reading it I grabbed paints, paper, and children and headed out into the backyard. We had a great time being creative and finding plants and bits of nature that had, until then, gone unnoticed. Some of the prints we created were surprisingly beautiful. It was a great learning experience and a whole lot of fun!