Strelitzia Reginae, a.k.a. Bird of Paradise III. All images courtesy of Lili Arnold, shared with permissionTropical Flowers and Prickly Cacti Leap from Lili Arnolds Vibrant Block PrintsMarch 26, 2025Kate MothesEvery year, Lili Arnolds mother would block-print holiday cards to send to family and friends. When she was old enough to wield a carving tool, Arnold began to make her own, too. But it wasnt until college, when she took an Intro to Printmaking class, that she became enthralled with the practices myriad methods.Block printing specifically captured Arnolds attention because of its relatively simple components and techniqueno giant presses required. The block can expand in scale, incorporate different colors, or be layered with numerous pressings.Strelitzia Reginae, a.k.a. Bird of ParadiseI think what I love most about the process is seeing my first print after so many hours of sketching, planning, carving, and troubleshooting, Arnold tells Colossal. Theres a lot of thought and time invested in the steps before the actual print becomes real, so when I see that first reveal, its both terrifying and thrilling.Arnolds compositions often revolve around natural subjects, especially botanicals like cacti and tropical flowers. She is fascinated by the environments infinite interaction of colors, textures, patterns, and symmetry.Theres such vast diversity of plant life out there, each ecosystem encapsulating unique details and wonders, she says. We as artists and botanical patrons have the pleasure of translating and expressing our appreciation of this beauty through our artwork, writing, gardening, exploring, and beyond.Follow updates on Arnolds Instagram, and browse prints available for purchase in her shop.Zantedeschia Albomaculata, a.k.a. Spotted Calla Lily IIIPalm Study IIIEmergence of SpringOpuntia Ficus-Indica, a.k.a. Prickly PearBlocks ready for printingPulling Opuntia Ficus-Indica, a.k.a. Prickly PearBlock for Banksia ProlataNext article