Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Essential Tips For Making Pressed Flower Art

By Katrina Wheeler


Paper choice is an essential part when creating pressed flower art paintings, cards and crafts. No matter the method used to press the blossom, the paper chosen dictates the quality and longevity of the finished product. Some paper and cloth types to use are silk, velvet, linen, cotton, watercolor paper, handmade paper, Ingres paper, Japanese paper, and marble paper.

Using petals, leaves and blossoms has become a huge trend in the art world. Flower art work can benefit from the use of watercolor paper. When touched, watercolor paper feels rough. The roughness is important when bonding flowers to paper. Medium grade and cold-pressed watercolor paper are the most fitting type for projects involving flowers. The canvas can be painted or tinted with charcoal in advance.

Handmade paper is a great choice when working with flattened flowers. A unique textured paper can be custom made to fit the needs of the artist. Handmade paper has a special formulation and makes is an excellent choice for the top layer. Other paper can be used in combination with a handmade paper. Paper made by hand is easily customizable and can be any color and texture.

Ingres paper, also known as laid paper, is a lesser known paper used to make dazzling artwork. Ingres paper, discovered by a French painter, is woven. The special way Ingress is woven leaves it with a raised texture. Flowers firmly attach to Ingres paper. Not all flowers are vibrant after being dried. The dark rich color of Ingres paper tends to be most appropriate when using vibrant flowers.

Japanese paper has many uses in arts and crafts and is appropriate to use when working with dried and flattened petals, blossoms and stems. There are many types of Japanese paper. It is essential to choose a type with a thick and rough finish. The benefit of using this more delicate paper is the wide selection of paper types, grades and colors.

Flowers are very delicate once the moisture has been drained from them. This is why using regular paper can result in a less than admirable craft. If the only paper available is regular paper, then some attempt should be made to give the paper a design and texture. One such way to add character to paper is to use marbling techniques.

When specifically talking about framed pressed flower projects, then it is appropriate to choose velvet or silk. Silk and velvet create a drastic effect when used as the base layer for plants, including flowers. It takes more skill, effort and time to work with fabrics. Flowers inset on fabrics securely, so practice and time are all that is needed to make the piece perfect.

Cotton and linen can be used as an alternative to silk and velvet. To obtain the same look and end up with a durable finished product use cotton or linen. Choosing the right kind of paper makes the difference between success and failure. Craft makers who take the time to understand how to pick the right paper end up with the best pressed flower art.




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