#234 - The Kiss

I'm happy to share my most recent creation.  It features my pressed flower and gilded background rendition of “The Kiss” by Austrian Symbolist painter, Gustav Klimt (1862-1918). It depicts a couple embracing, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by both the Art Nouveau style and the earlier Arts and Crafts movement. Klimt combined oil paint with applied layers of golf leaf, referred to as gold leafing or gilding.  

In my rendition, the woman was created using pink and white larkspur for her skin and marigolds for her hair. Her robe features yellow cosmos petals adorned with verbena, bridal wreath and the cosmos flower centers. For the man, I used aged dogwood flowers for his skin and browned lily of the valley leaves for his hair.  His vibrant robe features orange cosmos petals adorned with bridal wreath, birch bark and banana skin. 

Other botanicals include larkspur, queen anne’s lace, cosmos, hydrangea, bridal wreath, solidigo, thyme, parsley and fern.

#232 -- Cold Winter Evening

I recently finished this winter scene.  It is 11" x 14" and will be matted and framed to 16" x 20".

It features a cozy woodland cabin on a cold winter evening.  Perhaps the inhabitants are enjoying their evening meal warmed by a fire in the fireplace.  While they are settling in, one of nature’s creatures has come out of hiding. 

The winter sky was created with melaleuca and paper birch bark. The mountains were outlined with skeleton leaves. The cabin was constructed with brown day lily leaves, bark and straw.  Other botanicals include white poplar, maple and miscellaneous leaves; artemesia, cotton, birch bark, assorted skeleton leaves, fern, evergreen, garlic skin, onion skin, hydrangea, cosmos and seaweed.  This piece will be vacuum sealed and framed with 99% UV acrylic.  A second layer of glass will cover the matting.

Recent Creations with Flowers From South Africa

I had the opportunity to do a flower swap with a Inaretha Lategan, a wonderful pressed flower artist from South Africa.  Here are two creations from this exchange.  Both have been sold.

Custom Orders

I have been extremely busy with custom orders recently which is wonderful.  Here are a few for your viewing pleasure.  The first two are bridal bouquets and the third is from a series of three pieces using memorial flowers.  My customers were very pleased.

Pressed Flower Class - August 23, 2014

Pressed Flower Class by Artist, Betty Green, at the Village Country Store
11 Main Street, Waterloo, NY 13165

August 23, 2014 – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Participants will create three 5”x7” frameable pressed flower pictures including:

• A dragonfly with flowers      
• Butterflies with flowers
• A ladybug with flowers

Beginner friendly.  Pressing techniques will be discussed.  Cost is $20/person and includes all materials.  Pre-registration with minimum 50% deposit by Wednesday, August 20^th.   Minimum four students required to hold the class. Contact Betty Green at 315-789-2911 to register. 

Pressed Flower Classes

My next pressed flower class is scheduled for Saturday, July 19^th at the Village Country Store at 11 W. Main Street, Waterloo, NY  from 1 to 3:30 pm.  Participants will create bookmarks on both a skeleton leaf and a paper background as well as luggage tags adorned with flowers. Pressing techniques will be shared.  No prior experience with pressed flowers is required. The class fee is $15 whch includes all materials.  Advanced registration is required.  

#207 - Independence Day

This magestic red, white and blue eagle was created in observance of both Memorial Day and the the Fourth of July.  My original concept was to create a flag, but when my research  uncovered an eagle, my plan quickly changed.  The eagle was created from gerbera daisy, onion skin, delphinium, bark and bridal veil.  The fireworks featured bridal veil and queen Anne’s lace.  This piece was vacuum sealed and framed with 99% UV acrylic.