Sunday, November 17, 2013

The Secret To Creating Stunning Pressed Flower Art

By Katrina Wheeler


Pressing flowers is a unique way make cards, gifts and wall hangings. The secret behind successful pressed flower art is choosing the right paper, or fabric, for the base layer. Choosing the wrong type of paper is the biggest mistakes craft artists make. Flowers add a unique design element to paintings and crafts, and how petals are mounted makes a difference. The secret behind elegant flower art is in the choice of paper or fabric, used for the base layer.

A majority of projects artists take on that involve pressing use watercolor paper. Creative people use paints and charcoal to turn plain white paper into a colorful and interesting background. Paper meant for watercolors come in different types and grades. Choose a medium and cold-pressed paper when working with any kind of plant. Flowers stay intact for longer when you use watercolor paper.

When looking for a paper right for the project, handmade paper may be the best choice. Handmade paper can be used as a base layer, as well as a top layer. Paper made by hand can be opaque or transparent, making made by hand paper a great choice for the top sheet. Paper made by hand can reflect the vision seen in the mind, leaving the final product closer to the image in the mind.

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.

Using regular paper is not desirable with something as delicate as dried flowers. When using regular paper, then a raised and rough surface is important. Turning regular paper into marbled paper makes it appropriate for the task. Creating marble paper takes more effort and knowledge but also creates an intricate background design for the finished product.

Velvet and silk are difficult to work with, but create truly unique finished products. Flower art projects that are embedded into silk and velvet do not last as long. The trade off is how well the piece turns out. Silk and velvet pieces are impressive, and are always received well.

Cheaper fabrics can be used for art projects. The best are cotton and linen. Cotton and linen last longer than silk and velvet, but are still seen as unique and interesting. Success is inevitable when enough thought is put into deciding upon the most fitting kind of paper. Each pressed flower art project is different, and each may require a different paper to get the stunning result that is desired.




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