Sketchbook Project – Moss and Lichen Prints and Samples

Pages Twenty-one and Twenty-two:

I printed using moss and lichen by pressing it on an ink pad and then making impressions in the book. I thought the images didn’t stand out enough so I added a static background with colored pencil to bring the images forward and tinted the moss prints with crayon.The lichen printed blobs in it, and I realized it was pitch that must’ve caught in it from the trees since it left sticky bits on my fingers that smelled like evergreen sap. It made the page smell good too, and I hope the scent will stay with the book.  The scale pattern happened when I put the background on the next page and some color lifted from the grey pencil on the moss page. I decided I liked the effect and didn’t add a further background. But I also wanted anyone who hadn’t seen these mosses and lichens to see the actual specimens. They are so interesting in texture, and I didn’t think the prints did them justice. So I added small sample packets to the pages too.