To send to relatives and friends, Lili Arnold's mother would block-print holiday cards each year. Lili started making her own when she was old enough to use a carving instrument. However, she wasn't caught by the variety of techniques used in printmaking until she enrolled in an Intro to Printmaking course in college. She was particularly drawn to block printing because it didn't require enormous presses and had comparatively simple components and methods. Here's where flowers and cacti stepped in and made her work remarkable.
The Artist Behind the Knife - Lili Arnold's Botanical Prints
Working from her California studio, the artist creates block prints that focus entirely on plant forms, using a manual and time-intensive process that highlights shape, texture, and repetition. Her work doesn't rely on color or complexity. Instead, she leans into the basics: line, contrast, and patience.
The final process of a white poppy printed block
Each print starts with a block of rubber and ends with a sheet of inked paper. The process between those two points is where the work happens. Arnold first sketches the plants she wants to feature — often ones she’s observed locally or grown herself. Then she spends hours carving away everything that isn’t the image. What’s left is a raised surface that will carry the ink.
She prints each piece by hand, either by pressing paper directly onto the block or using a traditional press. It’s not automated. Every print requires setup, alignment, and pressure. Some are part of limited runs; others stand alone. The result is consistent but never identical, and that’s part of the appeal.
Art That Often Revolves Around Plants and Flowers
Natural topics, particularly botanicals like cacti and tropical flowers, are frequently featured in her diverse works. The environment's endless interplay of colors, textures, patterns, and symmetry catches her eye every time, not to say it's one of her main sources of inspiration.
She claims that there is an enormous variety of plant life in the world, with each habitat including special nuances and marvels. Through her artwork, writing, gardening, exploration, and other endeavors, she, as an artist and botanical patron, enjoys translating and expressing her admiration for the beauty of the surrounding natural world.
Made for Walls, Not Just Galleries
While she has shown her work in gallery spaces, much of her audience discovers her through social media or independent markets. Her prints are often seen framed in homes, studios, and workspaces — not because they match the furniture, but because they offer something balanced and grounded in between everything else.
Her pieces have also found a following among people who appreciate manual craft. There’s no algorithm involved, no AI, no shortcuts. Just tools, time, and repetition. That kind of approach resonates with those who are tired of fast, flat visuals.
If you want to take a further glimpse at her art, make sure to follow updates on Lili's Instagram Account.
Photos by: @liliarnoldstudios.
