Magic of Monotype: Botanical Play

Step outside to explore the museum's grounds, sustainably and responsibly collecting leaves, grasses, seed heads, petals, and other natural finds that will become the raw material of your prints. It's part nature walk, part creative treasure hunt.

Back in the studio, learn the fundamentals of monotype printmaking: how to ink a surface, transfer an image, and pull a print. Then the botanicals you've gathered take center stage. Pressed into ink, laid onto paper, or used to mask and resist color, your collected specimens become unexpected printmaking tools. Experiment with layering, color, and placement, building compositions that feel rooted in the landscape around you. Some prints will be precise and botanical in spirit; others loose, abstract, and painterly. The process encourages both — and everything in between.

By the end of the session, you'll leave with a small body of original work made entirely from the place you spent the day, a newfound eye for the printmaking potential hiding in the natural world, and the skills to continue exploring on your own.