Spring Printmaking

For this project you need paper, newspaper, water-soluble block printing ink, a brayer, and an inking surface, like a piece of glass or smooth plastic. We picked deep green and yellow ink, so that we could mix a light spring green.

Children, go into the outdoors and collect some spring leaves.

Roll out your inks with the brayer. A palette knife would be a nice help if you are mixing inks.


Choose a leaf or a branch and gently ink it with the brayer in one direction. Some spring leaves are very delicate.

Now arrange the branch the way you want on the paper.

Cover the paper and branch with a piece of clean newspaper, and rub your hand over the branch to transfer the ink.


Pull off the newspaper and the branch and look at your print. Some of the prints have amazing detail! I liked the children's assymetrical compositions, too. Fresh and simple, like spring.