What is Oshibana?

Oshibana art is the Japanese craft of creating pictures with pressed flowers and plant materials. It involves arranging dried flowers, petals, leaves, and stems to form intricate designs and images, resulting in beautiful botanical artworks that preserve the grace of nature.

But what is Japanese pressed flower art, and what do you need to start? This oshibana beginners guide will give you everything you need to know, so read on for all the details.

The roots of oshibana, literally translated as ‘pressed flowers’, are said to stem from sixteenth century Japanese samurai warriors who used the art form to hone their powers of concentration, focus and patience, as well as establishing a deep connection with, and appreciation of, the natural world.

In the middle of the nineteenth century, as cultural and entrepreneurial exchanges between the east and west began to flourish, oshibana art made its way to Europe and America, and became a fashionable hobby, especially in Victorian England. As a purely decorative art, oshibana has dipped in and out of fashion over the years, but it has seen a recent resurgence in popularity, especially through social media.

One of the many benefits is its accessibility and versatility. Whether you’re crafting personalised greeting cards, embellishing photo frames, or creating wall art, the possibilities are virtually endless. This Japanese pressed flower art not only allows you to express your creativity but it’s a therapeutic hobby and can forge a connection with nature.

Getting started with oshibana is simpler than you might think, and you’ll have most of what you need at home. Everything else can be bought from your local hobby shop.

Botanicals

Choose your flowers, leaves, grasses, petals and stems, and try to ensure they’re in good condition, with no tears or blemishes. One top tip is to try and avoid wet botanicals if you can, as they can be prone to mould.

Pressing

You can buy small flower presses, but most people use big heavy books! To soak up the moisture in your flowers and botanicals and to make sure they’re completely dry before use, add a layer of absorbent paper between the book and the flowers or leaves, such as parchment paper, blotting paper, kitchen towel or even coffee filters. Some people suggest leaving them for between two and four weeks, but it depends on what you’re pressing, so checking every few days is a good idea. If you need to, replace your absorbent material if it’s looking damp.

Cutting & Assembly Tools

You’ll need a strong pair of scissors to trim your plants, and a craft knife to make precise cuts into your desired shapes. To assemble your botanicals, a pair of tweezers is very useful for picking up and arranging the delicate flowers, and you’ll need a small paintbrush for applying the glue.

Glue

The best adhesive to use for oshibana art is acid-free glue, which can help to prevent discolouration and degradation of your flowers, leaves and petals. Use a small paintbrush to apply a thin layer of glue on the back of each pressed piece to ensure even coverage.

Mounting Surfaces

One of the most important of all your oshibana supplies is your mounting surface. For beginners, try using thick paper, canvas, pages in your diary, a scrapbook, or notecards. As you get more advanced, there’s lots of things you can decorate, like vases, ornaments, bookmarks, or greeting cards. You’ll soon ‘blossom’ into an oshibana expert!

Other Tools

There are just a few other basic tools you’ll need, including a pen or pencil to sketch out your designs, and a ruler to ensure even spacing when you come to lay it out. With these tools, you can create beautiful oshibana art that showcases the natural beauty of pressed flowers!

Oshibana really is very easy, but it does require some delicate handling and a light touch! Once your flowers are pressed – and we’ve outlined that process above – the next step is to plan your design.

Planning: On a piece of paper, sketch a simple layout for your artwork and then gently place the dried plants on your paper to see how they look together.

Assembly: Use your tweezers to pick up the delicate pressed plants, and then dab a small amount of clear-drying, acid-free glue on the back of each piece. Next, carefully position them according to your design.

Final Touches: You need to allow the glue to dry completely, keeping the artwork flat and undisturbed. Once your artwork is dry, you have your first piece of authentic oshibana!

It really is that simple, and by following these steps, you’ll create a beautiful piece of Japanese pressed flower art that brings a touch of nature indoors. It’s a relaxing and rewarding craft that gets easier with practice.

From its historical roots to modern applications, oshibana, the centuries-old Japanese pressed flower art, preserves the fleeting elegance of flowers, whether to preserve memories or to create art. So why not give oshibana art a try and watch your artistic skills – and appreciation for nature – blossom!