Preserving leaves with glycerin for monoprinting

Leaves and ferns for monoprinting on fabric with the gel plate
Natural Materials for monoprinting on fabric with the glycerin and gelatin plate

Autumn is coming to a close in New England. Last week I gathered as many leaves that I could find.

The were still on the tree, so fresh. I imagine that their little veins were still open and ready to drink up the glycerin and water bath that I was going to put them into.

I tried to collect at least 3 different sizes of the same leaf. I did this so when I print with them, I will have repetition and variety.

I left the leaves in the 2 parts water and 1 part glycerin bath for 4 to 7 days.

Then I stacked them in between the pages of an old phone book. Hopefully the phone book will absorb the excess glycerin.

 

I have been wondering where I could get leaves, ferns or grasses during the winter months.

  • One place would be a greenhouse
  • Maybe the produce section of the grocery store
  • How about a florist
  • Or flower mart

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2 thoughts on “Preserving leaves with glycerin for monoprinting”

  1. Linda…
    Can you tell me the mixture ration of water to glycerin for the leaf bath?
    Sounds like a great idea and just what I have been struggling with…keeping some of my favorite leaves for later use? Do you find that once the leaf has been used and has acrylic on it, that you would rinse the paint off before reusing it? Do you keep the leave between book pages then after reusing them?

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