Anuradha Sahu describes her patented press dry flower technique that channels the life force of nature.

In this floral art, I explore the connection between spirituality, creativity, and the arts, demonstrating that cultivating any form of art as a spiritual practice is a path to liberating our imaginations and developing essential skills for a vibrant life in the world. Creativity is a powerful force that shapes human existence. For me, there is a profound intersection where the spiritual and creative lives converge—a deep desire to create space and listen to the depths of experience, guiding me beyond myself in search of greater meaning, connection with mystery, and the cultivation of spiritual practices.

In my work, I honor my spiritual connection to Nature. Pressed dry flower art has taught me to recognize the common threads across all faiths and religions, instilling a sense of spirituality in my practice. This is not merely an art form focused on visual beauty but one that holds endless depths to be explored. It fosters a reverence for nature, highlighting how we often take so much from the natural world without acknowledging or giving back to it. Flowers serve as a medium of transmission, carrying subtle, deep power that symbolizes an aspiration for progress in Earth’s evolution.

The art embodies a balance of aesthetic beauty, knowledge of natural plant forms, and a profound understanding of the spaces around it. Plants and flowers have a remarkable quality—they express their joy and vitality in their own unique way. Each one, content in its existence, vibrates with a subtle yet intense joy. The entire universe seems in marvellous harmony.

Flowers can stimulate the limbic system, increasing blood flow to the brain and enhancing our sense of well-being. Their beauty evokes memories of our connection to nature. As the nervous system responds to creative expression, working with flowers to create art allows life force or energy to flow more freely through us, promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual health. This practice brings therapeutic benefits, including relief from mental fatigue, reduced stress, and overall emotional well-being.

Technique of Floral Botanical Collage Decoupage

Floral Botanical Collage Decoupage is a patented technique in the USA, Japan, Germany, Singapore, and India. It redefines the traditional art of pressed dry flower artistry. This innovative approach builds upon the legacy of Osibana, the 16th-century Japanese art of pressed flowers, offering a more advanced method that even Japan has recognized with a patent.

The process involves hand-plucking flowers, which are naturally dried without the use of chemicals or artificial colors. These flowers are then meticulously pasted with a needle onto various natural media, creating artwork that speaks a unique language of flowers. The technique combines a variety of materials such as flowers, leaves, grasses, weeds, tendrils, seeds, sola wood, ferns, bamboo, and other indigenous natural resources. These elements are used on a wide range of natural media, including handmade papers, wooden laminates, ceramic tiles, floral curtains, natural fibers, seashells, leaf skeletons, and bamboo.

The raw materials are carefully sourced from cultivated fields, botanical excursions, and field trips, specifically focusing on wild weeds, grass, and flowers that are often overlooked in the mortal world. These plants, typically considered insignificant, possess a strong will to exist and are used to create unique, unseen designs that honor the beauty of nature’s forgotten creations. The immense time spent discovering the hidden magnificence of these wild, ubiquitous plants speaks to the respect given to nature’s overlooked treasures.

Floral Decoupage involves cutting dried botanicals, often with stencils, and mounting them on various surfaces or products, creating a decorative art piece.

Floral Collage is the technique of using uncut dried botanicals and flowers from different origins, which are then mounted and pasted onto any surface or product, adding depth and beauty to the medium.

This art form celebrates nature’s diversity and fosters a deeper connection with the natural world. It transforms common wild plants into extraordinary works of art.\

About Anuradha Sahu

Anuradha Sahu lives in Chhattisgarh, India. Email auro_arts@rediffmail.com

Tags

flower | India | paper