Pressed Flower
The Story of the Pressed Flower
Flowers are one of nature’s most elegant creations and are the perfect complement for every environment and décor. As an avid traveler, Wenlan has witnessed the beauty of flowers and fauna throughout the world, and they have inspired her to transform their temporary beauty into everlasting art.
A pressed flower is created by preserving a flower for use in art. Each artwork containing pressed flowers is one of a kind and is designed to bring its owner feelings of harmony and serenity. It also brings the earth’s natural beauty to your home and wardrobe. In addition to being used in wall decorations, pressed flowers can also be incorporated into personal items such as jewelry and housewares.
Creating pressed flower art is a laborious process. It begins with collecting fresh flowers at the peak of their beauty and freshness. Each flower is preserved and hand-pressed, and the preparation alone takes at least a week. The artwork begins with the drafting and painting of the background. Then the pressed flowers are carefully selected and laid, one by one, level by level, until completion. A completed piece could require hundreds of pressed flowers and take up to four weeks to complete.
Wenlan has been creating pressed flower art for more than two decade, and her collection can be viewed at her booth as well as at https://wenlanluart.com/mixed-media-pressed-flower-art
Landscape Pressed Flower Art
Hands-on-art activity for children and families
1) Introduce how to collect flowers and plants around us.
2) Demonstrate pressing process in tradtional and Microfleur technique.
3) Choose photo reference ( Example: Odilon Redon | Vase of Flowers, 1901) Legiom of Honor, San Francisco
4) Prepare background paper. Use punch or hand cut a vase or planter.
5) Collect dried flowers and leaves base on the photo reference or personal design.
6) Arrange flowers and use paper cement to glue flowers on paper.
7) Use color pencils for shadow of the vase. The finished works can be laminated and used as bookmarkers/ greeting cards or a framed wall decoration.
8) Takeaway from the activity
· Learn the process of pressing flowers and leaves.
· Learn flower and plant names.
· Design and make pressed flowers arrange.
· Take home with a piece of completed pressed flower art.
