How to Make Dendrite Art

In geology, dendrites are migrating mineral formations that often resemble plants or trees. The French writer and artist George Sand (1804–1876) was inspired by these patterns and created many “dendrite artworks” in the latter part of her life. (Sand was born Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, but at the age of 27, she adopted her pseudonym to gain recognition as an author in the male-dominated literary world of 19th-century France.)

Sand’s dendrite artwork Landscape with Rocks, featured in the exhibition Lines of Connection: Drawing and Printmaking at the Getty Museum through September 14, 2025, was created by first applying brown and green opaque watercolor inkblots to a sheet of paper. Next, Sand pressed a blank sheet of paper over the blots and then peeled it away. The resulting treelike dendrite forms resembled the textures of nature. Finally, Sand used transparent watercolor to complete the landscape, painting a sky, water, and plants in areas around the blots.

The artwork is roughly four by six inches, or postcard size, and Edina Adam, associate curator of drawings at the Museum, thinks Sand probably gave away such items. Sand was an amateur artist more renowned for her literary works. “These were probably for people near and dear to her,” says Adam.

After seeing Landscape with Rocks in person and reading about its creation on the accompanying label, I was inspired to produce some dendrite artworks of my own and present them as gifts. And because Sand frequently asked her son or granddaughters to create the initial “blots” (she even originally called the works aquarelles à l’écrasage [squashed watercolors]), I enlisted the help of my two sons, who are 10 and 12 years old, for the project.

Because we were beginners, we adapted online tutorials that swapped out paper for used CD cases or ceramic tiles (which are easily cleaned, reusable, and create clear, dramatic patterns) and watercolors for acrylic paints (as they lock in color with less chance for muddying or bleeding). We also made our dendrite artworks abstract to allow for more freedom and experimentation.

If you choose to use paper and watercolors, one benefit is that both sheets will show the dendrite patterns and can be further embellished to make artworks. With CD cases or ceramic tiles, one half will show the dendrite patterns and can be employed as stamps on paper.

Here is a simple, step-by-step tutorial for making dendrite prints of your own, utilizing acrylic paints, CD cases or ceramic tiles, and colored paper.

Materials needed

• At least one empty CD case (separate the lid from the back; you will use the flat sides) or two square ceramic tiles (four by four inches is a good size)
• Acrylic paints
• Palette knife (optional)
• Kitchen knife
• Paper

Steps

1. Apply paint to one CD case side or ceramic tile. Try dots, small lines, or dabs, leaving some space between colors to avoid muddiness. Optional: Use a palette knife to spread or swirl the paint for more blended effects.
2. Sandwich the paint by placing the second (clean) CD case side or ceramic tile directly onto the painted one, lining up the edges (take care not to allow it to slide, or the paint will smear). Place the CD case side or tile down evenly and gently.

3. Slowly separate the two halves starting at one edge—you may need to use the kitchen knife to pry the halves open. Go gradually to allow air to enter and create the treelike dendrite patterns.
4. Once separated, you should see the fine branching structures on the CD case sides or ceramic tiles.
5. Transfer the patterns from the CD case sides or ceramic tiles onto colored paper by treating them like stamps. Press down lightly and do not shift the paper while pressing to avoid smudging.

6. Lift the stamp to reveal your dendrite print, and let it dry.
7. In future iterations, you might also try experimenting by applying more or less paint, layering, employing the same stamp over and over again, or painting or drawing on top or underneath the dendrite layer. Some people think the dendrites resemble coral, so you might attempt an underwater scene, or try a textured landscape with wild grass and rock formations, just like George Sand.