Printing with Vegetables – a creatively fun experiment!

This post was first published in July 2014.

I have very fond memories of my fibre art class in high school and all the amazing textile-related techniques I was taught there. Amongst others, I learnt that a potato makes a very handy printing tool and can be carved into various shapes to create all manner of interesting patterns. Lately, though, I’ve been wondering if other vegetables could also be used as printing tools and when I walked through my veggie garden today and found a mammoth cauliflower, an idea started taking shape. So, I have taken it upon myself to do a bit of experimental printing with vegetable, and oh my goodness, was I surprised?!

CAULIFLOWER. Seriously, who knew? I certainly didn’t! I am already conjuring up images of walls being printed with this interesting floral pattern – watch this space and expect amazing things! I really feel that the sky is the limit when it comes to this one.

Break off a large floret and cut through it so that you get a nice smooth face with a curly edge and stem (using a VERY sharp knife greatly helps). Print them in a circle with the stems touching to create a floral pattern or any way you want really!

GARLIC: It makes beautiful butterflies or hearts and pretty little flowers. You can also half the entire bulb and use that to print – perfect for gift wrap or a small canvass.

ONION: It’s amazing that it makes a perfect set of concentric circles. So beautiful that I just had to do a whole canvass with it. Isn’t is stunning!?

By printing your own, you can create original artwork, gift wrap and cards, fabric and linen.

It’s so simple; even my kids got involved although Jean much preferred printing himself than the paper!

There is all manner of amazing patterns in nature: cucumber slices,  halved beetroot or citrus fruit, apples and pears with the seeds in the core. Go on, experiment a bit and then share with us what you’ve created!

Happy Printing!