Natural Impressions: Taking an Artistic Path Through Nature

by Carolyn A. Dahl

Since the beginning of time, artists have looked to nature for inspiration. They have sketched its shapes, admired its colors, painted its textures, and copied its patterns. Natural Impressions offers a unique way to cultivate creativity by making prints directly from natural objects. In this innovative book, author and crafter Carolyn Dahl demonstrates how printing with a natural material-covering it with a medium and pressing it to a surface-allows artists to see and appreciate exquisite, often-overlooked details and make physical contact with the earth that sustains us. Natural Impressions begins with practical guidance on collecting materials and objects, along with basic instructions for making a successful nature print. Divided into three sections-leaves, flowers, and fish-the book clearly demonstrates a variety of techniques using an array of mediums; for example, paints/pigments, bleach, collage, markers, textile paints, and even rubber stamps. Plus, a special section details how nature prints can meet today's technology with photocopying and computer manipulation. Carolyn Dahl mesmerizes readers with enchanting, emotional stories and observations about nature. She helps them realize the myriad ways nature impacts the creative spirit, and inspires them with dozens of inventive paper and fabric projects featuring remarkable nature prints. Whether one is a beginning artist or an experienced veteran, the techniques in Natural Impressions can be done successfully by anyone-and are sure to foster a deeper, more intimate relationship with nature.

Genres: Art

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginative and inspirational ideas for using nature in art and descriptions of projects to try.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this book up to look for creative ways to document my foray into foraging. I'd heard of the Gyotoku printing, but was pleasantly surprised with the direct and indirect methods of plant printing/ painting. The steps were clear enough to follow easily but vague enough to allow your own direction to the projects.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to skim this before I sent it on as a gift. The skimming turned into savoring and pondering and enjoying the colors and artwork - as well as the fascinating how-to-techniques. I am thankful to the author who told me about her book. It is a gem. I may need to get a copy for myself.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

An book to inspire you in your creative journey of working with nature in the process of making art.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

gorgeous book, and a peak into an artist's journal, and how she creates artwork from nature to preserve her memories of the day, how it felt, what she saw. Really lovely and well worth reading (and trying to do yourself! )

[Deborah McKown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond my beginner skill level