NATURE PRINTING

There is no greater source of creative inspiration than the living palette of the natural world. From the Ogden Nature Center, a 127-acre wildlife sanctuary and educational foundation in Ogden, Utah, comes a collection of inventive ideas for using nature's bounty to produce beautiful prints. By applying ink or paint to such materials as leaves, flowers, and bark, then transferring the image to paper, fabric, or another medium, you can make marvelously unique designs. There are some 30 projects in all, including Leaf-Printed Gift Wrap and Etched Glassware, accompanied by full-colour photographs and explanatory text. Techniques include direct printing, gyotaku (Japanese fish rubbing), imprinting, hammer printing, and collage. Special tips on using colour and printing on fabric, pottery, or glassware assure excellent results.