In Linda Snouffer’s botanical printmaking, nature is both the subject and the means, with an artistic braid inspired by the landscape that utilizes natural materials and often encompasses a surprising color palette not found in nature.

Her multifaceted landscapes, backgrounds are built in an exploration of materials and techniques and layered with organic details of hand-printed plants, transforming timeless leaf printing into a fine art.

Botanical printmaking is an ancient craft that involves applying ink to a leaf, pressing it onto a surface, and removing it to reveal the detailed image. The simplicity of printing leaves is made more complex by assimilating multiple genres into the imagery. Many of Snouffer’s landscapes contain hundreds of prints comprising dozens of plant species. Grasses, with a myriad of species and striking structural variations, are central to botanical printmaking. Ranging in height from a few inches to several feet, grass blades and seed tassels offer remarkable artistic versatility.

Scattered Clouds is printed on hand-dyed raw silk, ( 44″ x 16″ ) which was pigmented using fiber arts and painting techniques.   The second piece is printed on mulberry paper, ( 42″ x 16″) which was dyed with an acrylic/dye wash.  Swaths of grasses collected from Metro-area railroad beds were printed onto the silk and paper.