Leaf Printing With Paint and Paper

Fresh leaves with prominent veins — maple, oak, fern, and ivy are excellent choices

Acrylic or tempera paint (any colors)

Paintbrushes

Paper — white for traditional botanical prints, dark paper for light-colored paint prints

Newspaper to protect the work surface

Paper plates for paint

Go outside and collect leaves. Look for ones with strong, raised veins on the back — the more pronounced the veins, the more detailed the print.

Place a leaf vein-side-up on newspaper or a paper plate. The back of the leaf has more raised veins than the smooth top.

Brush a thin, even layer of paint across the veiny surface. Do not glob it on — too much paint fills in the vein lines and you lose detail.

Carefully lift the painted leaf and flip it paint-side-down onto clean paper. Press it in place without sliding.

Press firmly over the entire leaf with your palm or a clean roller. Apply even pressure to transfer the paint.

Peel the leaf up carefully, starting from the stem end. The vein pattern stays behind on the paper in incredible detail.

Print multiple leaves in different colors, overlapping and arranging them for a full botanical composition.

Fresh, flexible leaves print better than dry, brittle ones. Collect them the same day you plan to print.

A thin coat of paint gives the sharpest prints. If the print looks blobby, use less paint next time.

Try metallic gold or silver paint on dark paper for a striking, elegant look.

Label each print with the tree or plant name for a botanical field guide feel.

This technique is the basis of botanical illustration printmaking. Real scientists have used leaf printing to document plant species for centuries.