Evolving Oshibana
There was a time 10 years ago when I made lampshades with dried pressed botanicals.
Laura redefined Oshibana, the Japanese art of using pressed flowers and other botanical materials by painstakingly hand painting every component
Discovering, noticing, harvesting, growing and collecting botanicals and then, pressing, drying, handpainting, and dying them and then, contemplating, arranging, and composing these botanical treasures…regifting nature for you.
She captured an opera of color, whether a garden emerging in Spring or an Autumnal palate that would otherwise fade and decompose.
Over years of constant trial and error, Laura hand painted and dyed every component of each botanical to retain its original vibrance.
Evolved Oshibana
In addition to growing her own flowers, and foraging, Laura made monthly trips to the Los Angeles Flower Market.
Laura would then press the flowers to prepare them for hand painting.
When I'm not pressing flowers I'm usually pressing flowers unless I'm pressing flowers.
Prolific Oshibana Production
Re-gifting nature's magnificent design....in progress.
Laura often showcased the entire plant, from root to flower.
Yes, the whole plant! All real botanicals pressed and dried, and then painted or dyed (YES EVEN, OR ESPECIALLY THE PANSIES, THEY WOULD BE BROWN IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OTHERWISE!). I paint directly on top of the real flowers and leaves with their original coloring.
