Here is a small selection of work by artists incorporating wood grain in prints, quite a few of the examples are from the mid 20th century, and happily many are contemporary.

Wood grain inspires printmakers; the printed grain suggests water, sky, landscape, and (not surprisingly) wood! I hope the work of these artists will help to fire your imagination for new ways to incorporate wood grain into your own prints. Have a look at the post “print from wood grain” for some tips on how to make good prints from salvaged timber.

I particularly like the wood grain prints where the grain is obvious, but also stands for something else. The saw cut reveals patterns of growth in a particular tree, and these patterns inspire images which celebrate the organic flow of energy in the natural world.

Antonio Frasconi, woodcut with wood grain; Bertolt Brecht

Antonio Frasconi; Bertolt Brecht, woodcut with wood grain

Antonio Frasconi is one of my favourite printmakers, because of his energetic and passionate approach.

Michael Rothenstein; Red and Dark Blue, print with wood grain

Michael Rothenstein; Red and Dark Blue, print with wood grain

I am including a couple of wood grain prints by Michael Rothenstein as I have just been to a fantastic exhibition of his work at Dean Clough Gallery

Michael Rothenstein; RIP, print using wood grain

Michael Rothenstein; RIP, print using wood grain

“A unique collection of 90 prints by Michael Rothenstein (1908-1993), arguably the most experimental British graphic artist of the 20th century.”

Prints using wood grain to suggest  water

Elizabeth Olds; Two terns parading, wood cut print with woodgrain

Elizabeth Olds; Two terns parading, wood cut print with wood grain

Elizabeth Olds frequently incorporated wood grain into her prints.

Merlyn Chesterman; Print incorporating wood grain

Merlyn Chesterman; Print incorporating wood grain

Merlyn Chesterman is a contemporary printmaker based in the South West of England.

Paul Schaube; Rowing alone, print with wood grain

Paul Schaube; Rowing alone, print with wood grain

Wood grain as Landscape

Max Ernst; Forest and sun, print with wood grain

Max Ernst; Forest and sun, print with wood grain

I couldn’t miss Max Ernst out of this collection!

Laura Boswell; print incorporating wood grain

Laura Boswell; print incorporating wood grain

Laura Boswell produces evocative landscapes with elements of wood grain.

Heiner Bauschart; Blue Landscape, print using wood grain

Heiner Bauschart; Blue Landscape, print using wood grain

One of several atmospheric wood grain prints by Heiner Bauschart.

Wood grain print with birds

Muammer Bakir; Print with wood grain

Muammer Bakir; Print with wood grain

There are, of course, many more artists creating prints with wood grain – I hope you will be one of them soon, if you are not already!