Resurrection ferns are remarkable plants. During periods of drought, their delicate fronds curl inward, turning brown and appearing lifeless. With the return of water, they unfurl and become green again—sometimes after surviving long periods without rain.
The fern used to create this original print was collected from a champion Cherrybark Oak in my Chattanooga neighborhood, a magnificent tree that has also been the subject of my tree-ring prints.
To make the impression, I first rehydrated the fern, allowing its fronds to return to life. I then pressed it flat, carefully applied ink by hand, and ran it through my etching press against dampened Rives BFK printmaking paper. The resulting image captures the intricate structure of the fern, from its delicate leaflets to its creeping rhizome and tiny roots. The pressure of the press also leaves a subtle impression of the plant in the paper itself.
Each print is individually made from the actual plant—not a photograph, digital reproduction, or conventional printing plate. Variations in the inking and impression make every print distinctive.
The resurrection fern has long struck me as a beautiful expression of resilience, renewal, and the unexpected persistence of life.
Artwork details
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Original, hand-inked botanical impression
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Printed on archival Rives BFK cotton paper
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Paper size: approximately 8 × 10 inches
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Float-mounted on an 11 × 14-inch black mat to reveal the deckled paper edges
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Signed and titled by the artist
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Includes rigid backing and a protective sleeve
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Unframed, ready for an 11 × 14-inch frame