Creating Alley Grass Botanical Landscape — Linda Snouffer

Creating Alley Grass Botanical Landscape

As the name implies, grasses were harvested on walks through neighborhood alleys. This Award winning botanical print was the first piece made in 2018 and represents a new studio season. Grasses were printed on cotton rag paper, with pastels used for background coloring and stylistic enhancements.

Alley Grass, Linda Snouffer Botanical Printmaker — Alley Grass
25” x 21"

Creating Alley Grass - 2 — The printing paper background was pigmented with pastels and the printing process begins. Ink is applied to about a dozen grasses; the grasses are laid onto the paper.

LindaSnouffer-Creating Alley Grass -3 — Ink is applied to the grasses; ready to be laid onto the prepared background.

LindaSnouffer-Creating Alley Grass - 4 — Approximately a dozen inky grasses are laid on the background and ready to be printed. This step is repeated many times to compose the entire scene.

LindaSnouffer-Creating Alley Grass - 5 — Printing is messy business and requires a blotter to be placed on top of inky grasses.
With the blotter in place, handprinting can begin.

LindaSnouffer-Creating Alley Grass -6_ — The blotter is made of tissue paper, which allows me to feel each grass piece as I gently press down to print. Tissue is also transparent enough that I can see each grass as I print them.

LindaSnouffer-Creating Alley Grass -7 — The tissue blotter is carefully removed to reveal the grasses underneath.

LindaSnouffer-Creating Alley Grass -8 — Removing the blotter. Each of the grasses will be gently removed. Often, grasses can be used again for additional prints. I like to use as many individual grass stalks as possible to give a more authentic appearance to my prairies.