Directly printing forms found in the natural world has been used for centuries by scientists, naturalists, and artists to preserve the ephemeral beauty of nature.

This multi-disciplinary workshop explores the botanical contact printing process (eco-printing) to create images on paper with fresh and pressed plant materials provided by the instructor and collected by students.

On the first day (9-4:30), students will learn botanical contact printing immersion techniques using dye baths on assorted paper and several nature printing techniques that don’t require a press. On the second day (10-4), the results will be used to create four books –- two non-adhesive no-sew structures, a multiple signature pamphlet, and a hybrid structure based on the accordion with pockets and sewn in signatures – all filled with rich visual content. Students will receive comprehensive handouts for all the book structures and nature printing techniques.

This workshop is perfect for artists, designers, painters, printmakers, book artists and non-artists with interest making books and in the natural world. Knowledge of basic book binding is helpful, but not mandatory.