Botanical Printing on Paper with Steam
If you enjoy nature and art, eco-print is a surprising and sometimes unpredictable technique. It transforms simple fibres into works of art.
What is eco-printing?
Eco-printing is a botanical printing technique using plants, leaves and other natural materials to transfer pigments, patterns and shapes onto fabric, paper or other supports. Direct contact between botanical materials and fibres, together with natural mordants, helps fix the colours.
This tutorial explores botanical printing on paper using eucalyptus leaves and flowers. We test vinegar and very dilute iron sulphate as mordants, which help fix the colours.
Materials
Fresh and dried eucalyptus leaves, garden flowers, card or paper, white vinegar, iron sulphate solution, two glass containers, cardboard and a steamer.
Preparing the mordant and paper
Prepare a vinegar bath with dried eucalyptus leaves and a very dilute iron sulphate solution. Make two paper samples, dipping one in each bath, and allow them to dry.
Arranging and steaming
Place fresh eucalyptus leaves and flowers on the prepared paper, press them firmly, roll the paper tightly and steam for around 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the paper and whether the leaves are fresh or dry.
Results
Allow the paper to cool, unroll it carefully and reveal the botanical impressions. Let it dry and experiment with the technique yourself.