Booker Morey discovered a process in 1993 to etch leaves to reveal the lacy and intricate beauty of the veins of the leaves. He works from his studio etching each leaf one at a time and arranging them in beautiful wood shadow boxes. Booker says, "Autumn is one of natures most spectacular displays. I capture the fleeting miracle of Fall and the inner beauty of the leaf in the arrangements." As far as we know he is the only person who can preserve both the unetched tips and the fine detail that is revealed in these native American leaves.

The leaves are picked during the summer and early fall, each leaf is hand selected for the quality of its shape. The leaves are then etched, colored, dried, mounted on a twig and framed. They have no preservatives, but will last for a long time if kept dry. Booker has leaves in his collection from 1993 with no apparent signs of change. Some museums have skeletonized leaves that are 100 to 200 years old. The etched leaves are like raw cotton, flexible and will last as long as it is cared for.

All artwork © Booker Morey