MycoRant

Pretty Spore Print (Nancy Cardozo)

Although there exist some decent instructions on the web for how to make a spore print as an aid to mushroom identification, some people just enjoy making them and consider them sort of an art form in and of itself. Anyone who has ever made one has surely recognized their intrinsic beauty. In fact, every time I make one, I still get a kick out of seeing the result appear on that formerly blank piece of paper.

The designers of the cover of the journal Mycological Research recognized the attraction of spore prints years ago when they incorporated stylized spore prints into their design. The cover design has since been changed. Let’s see if I can find an old one…nope (if you happen to have a copy, please scan a cover shot and send it to me!)

Back to the topic at hand…

Take for example someone who goes by “Resurrection Fern” ( I think). She blogged about her spore print making efforts earlier this year and has some nice results. Her readers found them quite attractive. I also found her layout of caps on a piece of paper attractive as well:

Resurrection Fern's Spore Print Layout

Of course we would not use colored paper for a technical spore print, but there is no rule against it if the goal is art.

Pretty spore prints on a blue background

Artist Jandelle Petters (among others) has incorporated spore prints into a greeting card design.

Natural spore prints have even inspired some to create them by hand (no mushrooms required). Take for example this work by someone called Yellena. It was apparently popular enough to sell out.

Spore print art by Yellena

Got any good info on or links to artistic spore prints? Please share!

Tags: art, crafts, mushrooms, spore prints