Hand-Printing from Nature: Printing with Ink Pads and Felt Markers

Recreate the beauty of nature by hand-printing its designs into your daily life.

By Laura Bethmann
Updated on November 10, 2021
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by Adam Mastoon

Bring nature’s artistry into your home with ideas from Laura Bethmann’s Hand-Printing from Nature (Storey Publishing, 2011). Transfer the beauty of freshly gathered botanical treasures onto paper, pillows, chairs, draperies, clothing and even ceramics. The following how-to is from “Printing with Ink Pads and Felt Markers.”


Once I start working and the images begin appearing on the paper before me, the enchantment begins. I feel a little giddy. I get delirious over color, pattern, and things that grow. To be able to recreate a field of daylilies on a sheet of paper or design textiles with the patterns of pineapple rind or ginkgo leaves excites me. But it’s not all about the result, what I’ve made by the end of the day. Ask any artist why she works and she’ll tell you it’s about the process the doing.

Direct Printing

Nature prints are direct impressions of life. The natural object is printed, not a carved woodblock, photo silkscreen, or other printmaking technique that depicts the object. When direct printing, ink or paint is simply applied directly to the object and it is printed! We’re beginning with leaves and inks, but the basic process is the same for both inks and paints and whether you’re printing celery, starfish, or the little winged fruits (called samara) of maple trees. Throughout this book, specific methods and tips for handling and preparing a variety of natural objects are described, but for the basic printing techniques, refer back to this chapter as needed. You’ll find that printing pansies is relatively quick and straightforward whereas printing eggshells is more complex; and it’s a simple process to print one grape leaf rather than the whole vine. Therein, however, lie the challenge, the fun, and the potential for more spectacular results! As you practice these techniques and become familiar with the subtleties involved when hand printing nature, you’ll become like the pasta maker who can feel when the dough she’s kneading is ready to transform itself. Soon you’ll be creating a wide variety of expressive designs with a swift, knowing hand. To get started, use the pigments and materials you’re familiar with, and if you’ve never touched ink or paint before, begin with an ink pad and felt marker.

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