How to make a tree print using natural ink

Hello folks and welcome to this simple, wild art tutorial, where you will learn how to make a tree print using natural ink!

As a landscape artist, I am constantly immersed in the natural environment. It is the catalyst for my creativity.

Over the past year I have realised the importance of connecting with nature and creativity through play. How it can remove mental blocks, improve creative thinking or simply lighten a mood.

It has helped me in my art practice a lot. I spend so much time focused on studio work which I absolutely love but expressing myself through simple and fun art activities allows me to nourish an innate, inner child like sense of curiosity. It feels so freeing to explore this without the need to have a perfectly finish piece or to dedicate much thought to it!

Re-wilding through art with a tree print

That is why this little tutorial really promotes the freedom to play. Creative play is how we can realise our potentials! How many people go through life thinking they don’t have that creative flare!?

From a young age most of us are taught art in schools one day a week. In my case it was on a Friday afternoon…if we were good! I could unravel this knot of frustration regarding the educational system but I will stay focused on the positives!. Creative exploration is something every one is good at. From a young age we naturally create healthy portals for our wild imaginations to express itself. We do it for the sense of joy, to explore the world around us. To express ourselves and to understand ourselves.

As we move through this fast paced world, I feel as though we truly need to slow down. Our bodies and minds are constantly letting us know this; with levels of anxiety rising and physical exhaustion becoming a common state of being.

It is so very necessary for us to walk off the beaten, worn down tracks of the constant demands of every day life. To, every now and then, choose to walk through the long wild grasses of our imagination. To breathe where our hearts are free to feel each breath. To take the time to slow down.

A very simple way to do this is to re- wild ourselves little by little, gentle thought by gentle thought. Roam free within nature, brave and curious….

Remember when you were a child? Sitting in the grass one sunny day, focusing on making the longest daisy chain? Nothing around you really existed other than the warmth, a soft breeze, the smell of the grass and flowers. There was such ease in your ability to connect with nature. You were, completely in the moment, in an almost meditative state.

Learning to slow down is a part of re-wilding ourselves. It’s about taking the time to immerse in these remembered experiences. Give yourself the time to play, to create, to connect and I promise you you will find deeper connections within yourself.

This tree print tutorial is so simple and will provide you with space to slow down, to enjoy the creative process without judgment or pressure. Just create for the sake of creating and have fun playing!

Before we begin with how to make a tree print with natural ink….

The ancient wisdom of tree rings

It might be obvious to many of you who are familiar with my work, how much I love trees so please indulge me while I spill a bit of info’ on the rings you will make prints of!

Their beautiful concentric circles, unique like a finger print, hold the whispers of ancient wisdom. Each ring tells a story, a narrative of resilience, survival, and the passage of time. I find it fascinating to think about how these natural archives provide us with a window into the past. They allow us to understand not just the life of a single tree but the broader environmental conditions it endured.

Understanding tree rings is like learning a new language, one that communicates through patterns and thickness. In years of abundance, when water and sunlight are plentiful, the rings are wide, revealing a period of growth and prosperity. The narrow rings tell tales of drought or harsh conditions, times when the tree had to muster all its strength and resilience to survive.

This cyclical pattern of growth and survival, recorded over decades or even centuries, is a testament to the incredible endurance of nature. It is reminder of the interconnectedness of all living things and the impact environmental changes have on the natural world.

You can harness a deeper connection, a deeper sense of empathy towards nature. Even with this little project and with the materials you choose to use.

For this tutorial you will be making our own eco friendly ink, which is very simple to do and very enjoyable. If you like, you can learn a little more about how I take a sustainable approach in my art practice

Gratitude for the trees

I will take a a few moments here before diving into how to make a tree print with natural ink, to express my gratitude for the trees. Maybe you will join me? Take a few moments now to think about what the trees provide for us.

Give thanks for the abundance of clean oxygen for the trees are the very lungs of this planet, for the habitat for wildlife, for helping prevent water pollution, for promoting healthy soil.

Simply being in the presence of trees has so many healing benefits too; reducing stress, improving mood, boosting the immune system, improving creativity and so much more.

You can discover the benefits of simply being in the presence of trees for your sense of well being and creativity in a recent post about forest bathing and creativity .

Let’s get started with how to make a tree print using natural ink

You will need

• a fallen branch or tree stomp ( at least 6inches wide)
• a blow torch or heat gun (takes much longer to remove the soft parts of wood)
• Earth & Mineral Pigment
• Burnt Plate Oil (burnt linseed oi)
• Magnesium Carbonate
• Liquid Gum Arabic (optional)
• Glass Palette
• Muller
• Ink Knife
• Brayer or small paint roller
• paper (choose weight of paper between 30-150 gsm)

Step 1:  Using a a spoon, scoop out 1 part pigment (e.g. 1 tsp.) into a mound and press down with the back of the spoon to make an indentation.

Step 2: Add 3/4 parts of the oil to the pigment and mix it with a knife until you have a thick texture.

Step 3: Mull over the ink, with a gentle pressure, making the pattern of the number 8. Do this for about 5 minutes, stopping a few time to scrape the muller off and repeat.

Step 4: Add 1 part magnesium carbonate and give it one last mix, preferably with the muller. This will stiffen the mixture and reduce the gloss.

Step 5: Add the guar gum, just a few drops, this helps to bind the ink to the paper but it is not absolutely necessary. It will work just fine without it.

Now that your ink is ready, it’s time to get your slice of wood or tree stomp prepared for inking up!

Step 6: Use a coarse grit sandpaper to sand the surface of your wood slice.

Step 7: Next, char the wood with heat gun, or blowtorch. You could even choose to use an outdoor open fire and hold the wood over the flames, using a fire tongs.

Step 8: Next, get your brayer or paint roller and roll it over the ink you made earlier. Once the ink is on the brayer, roll it over the glass/tile/ large plate or whatever surface you are using. This will ensure the ink will roll smoothly and evenly over the wood.

Step 9: Roll the inked up brayer over the wood, roll it over a few times in different directions.

Step 10: Get your sheet of paper and carefully place it on top of the inked up wood. Grab a spoon and with one finger on the center of the page to hold it in place, rub the back of the spoon over the surface of the paper. Apply even pressure.

You can lift up the corner of the page to see how it looks. Simply continue to rub the spoon over areas that might need more work.

I really love how this turned out and I really like the imperfections. It is a gentle reminder of how beautiful and unique nature is, perfectly imperfect.

So there you have it, a simple, wild art tutorial on how to make a tree print using natural ink. Hand made and eco friendly. Feel free to explore different colours pigments. I purchase my pigments from a company called Natural Earth Pigments. I love their variety of natural colours and I truly admire their ethos. Alternatively, you should be able to get some pigment too from your local art store.

These little prints make beautiful gifts, or would add an authentic, rustic charm to any space.

Until next time folks, thank for stopping by.

Be WILD. Be free

Dee Ci