Botanical Leaf Stomata Pressure Micro-Printing Siphon

45 mins Ages 10-14 Indoor

A challenging, hands-on discovery and STEM project designed for curious young minds aged 10 to 14.

Materials Needed

  • • Water-soluble block printing ink (black or dark green) (1 tube)
  • • Rubber printmaking brayer roller (approx. 4 inches) (1 unit)
  • • Heavy printmaking or watercolor paper (3 sheets)
  • • Glass inking plate or smooth acrylic sheet (1 unit)
  • • Fresh leaves with raised veins (3 leaves)
  • • Wooden spoon or printmaking baren (1 unit)

Pro Tips

  • → Roll out a small dab of water-soluble block printing ink on an inking plate with a brayer roller until it hisses with a uniform velvet texture.
  • → Roll the inked brayer directly across the raised vein side of a fresh leaf.
  • → Lay the leaf onto printmaking paper and rub the back with a wooden spoon to produce a detailed archival botanical relief print.

Safety First

Wear an apron to protect clothes from permanent block printing inks.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Step 1

Roll a dab of water-soluble relief printing ink on a glass plate with a brayer until an even, tacky layer forms.

2

Step 2

Roll the inked brayer across the raised underside of a fresh green leaf, coating every vein.

3

Step 3

Place the inked leaf face-down on heavy printmaking paper and cover it with a protective sheet of baking parchment.

4

Step 4

Rub the back with a baren or the bowl of a wooden spoon, then lift the leaf to reveal the detailed relief print.

What they are learning

Fine-art relief printmaking Botanical vascular margin replication Ink viscosity and uniform roller laydown