Philadelphia Flower Show 2018. Competition entries

 
   Could I think 10 years ago when it was first time I sent two my artworks to the competition of pressed flower art at Philadlphia Flower Show, I would see this famous event and be a judge for the one of contest classes!
   I'm very grateful to our hostess Micki Wach from Philadelphia and all who worked hard to make WWPFG conference 2018 so special and remarkable, because the conference was joined up with the Flower Show this year.
   Philadelphia Flower Show is an annual event, the oldest and largest indoor event of its kind. It draws hundreds of thousands of people to the Pennsilvania Convention Center every year. And every year the show has a specific theme. This year it was "Wonder of Water". The Pennsilvania Horticultural Society (PHS) that runs the flower show, invites visitors to look at a variaty of flower and garden displays of all shapes and sizes and to purshase goods for a garden, seeds, all-new products in the run-up to the warm season. Also the show brings together florists, landscapers, designers and artists who enter to juried contests in landscape design, floral arrangements, botanical art, garden miniatures, the best Orchid, etc. Of course, the most important for me is the competition of pressed flower art from around the world.
  It was very impressive to see all competitive entries with my own eyes. On the first day we judged children's pictures (up to 18 y.o.) They had to depict how people and animals having fun with water. And on the second day we judged many adult entries of several contest classes. I and my juri team judged the Reflection class (with and without vacuum sealing). The artists had to make a scene reflected in a body of water. All artist's names were hidden to avoid any bias.

  

The artworks won in the Reflection class (no vacuum) are: 1st place - Elena Prokhorova (Russia), 2nd place - Mila Garro (USA), 3rd place  - Micki Wach (USA)

The artworks with vacuum sealing won in the Reflection class are: 1st place - Mei-Ling Hsu, 2nd place - Hsu Yen-O, 3rd place - Wu Rang (China), Honorable Mention - Ching Mei Hsu.

The best picture (outstanding blue award) by Lay-Yoong Lim (Magical Water class, vacuum sealing) and other wonderful artworks from different classes:

 

 

 

 

The class of 3D-artworks was called "Sprinkles". Those were decorated watering cans:

The announcement of my class for WWPFG conference 2018

Some time ago I noticed this "coffee watercolor" when the artist uses coffee solution instead usual paint. On the internet you may find several artists that paint with coffee and see their amaizing arts. I thought that natural paint might be very good for combinating with the one of my favorite materials - brown pressed leaves under snow. I loved the result of this experimenting. The artwork made in brownish colors looks like a grisaille. It is beautiful and easy-to-make at the same time. So I've decided to show the applications of new idea at WWPFG conference that will be held in Bensalem (just outside of Philadelphia, PA), USA on March 1-4, 2018. During my class we will try to make a couple of pictures in this tehnique.

Another two pictures that I made by using the idea of painting with natural paint

   

I've just used hibiscus tea and coffee for making the background.

Please watch my short video annoucement. There is a little of the process. Also I invite everybody to attend the conference. The unique chance to visit two fabulous events will be this time. The  Philadelphia Flower Show is going to start right after the conference. And there will be the exhibition of competitive artworks by pressed flower artists from all the world!

Winter pictures class video tutorial (part 1) is available

I've completed part 1 for Winter picture class tutorial. It's one video file with English subtitles and pdf document with photos and short description.

This class tutorial is intended for beginners, for everybody who wants to learn basic skills of working with pressed plant material to create any images from it.

The class contains three parts and each part is more complicated than previous one. Each part includes one text tutorial for one winter landscape. Also you can watch the video tutorial for each part. In first part of the class you will learn:

- how to make the background for your artwork in simple way using watercolor (3 colors);

- how to prepare pressed banana skin;

- why I recommend to use brown leaves under snow for depicting trees and how to pick them up;

- how to cut and glue pressed plant material to make the branches of trees and bushes.

This tutorial is available for $10. You'll get the description and a link for downloading the video. Also you will have my explanations to any your questions.

My award from Korea International Pressed Flower Exhibition 2017, Gurye

Many of the WWPFG members enter to Korean contests every year and get high awards. As you know there are two annual Korean International Pressed Flower Art competitions that are open to all artist from around the world. – in Goyang and in Gurye but this year there is not any competition in Goyang.  So I entered to the 16th Korea International Pressed Flower Exhibition in Gurye. It was first time I participated in Korea contest.  And I’m glad to tell you about my award that I won. My artwork “Winter’s coming” has brought me the Second prize! A total of 60 artworks were be selected and awarded and only 12 ones got the Second prize. 

This work is made from pressed plant material entirely, with no any paints.

The Gurye County competition stresses on wild plants usage. Judging is based on creativity, pressed flower condition, material application, background, and wild flower usage percentage. All artworks that are winners in Gurye Exhibition will be displayed there for one year.

Also I’ve received the book with the pictures of all entries by both Korea Exhibition (only for Korean participants) and  Korea International one.

          and winner’s certificate.

     I’m proud to receive this award!

Students works from March online class

My online class "Decorative Pictures in Vintage Style" is finished. This time my students did two decorative artworks of varying difficulty level. I was glad to have so many students that managed perfectly with their work. And it's always interesting for me to see how other people realize my idea with different materials.

Since I got positive responses to video format of the class tutorial, I will go on to work in this direction. 

How to treat banana skin for pressing, mini-tutorial (video)

I prepare new class for beginners where we will use pressed banana skin and leaves under snow that I like so much. To press banana skin is often the issue for beginners. If it turns out too thick, you can't glue it down entirely. Also the skin may get moldy for pressing. So I decided to make small video that is a part of another tutorial to help those who wants to start working with this perfect material.

March 2017 Professional Workshop "Decorative Pictures in Vintage Style" with video tutorials

I'll teach students at this online guild class during March.
In the class we will do two decorative pictures of varying difficulty level with the birdnests. This time I captured all principal working stages on video just to show how I make these things.  
 I explain in detail to the students:
-how they may do nice vintage background for their pressed flower art using laser-printed pictures, stencils and stamps;

- what plant materials to take for depicting realistic images;

- how to create different shapes (a birdnest, eggs, a bird, tree branches) using the pieces of plant material;
-  how to decorate a frame in the same style using simple methods and accessible materials.
The class is easy and intended for the beginners. If you come to understand the basic skills of working with the plant materials, you will be able to further to make any images from pressed leaves and flowers.
Besides of that these two pictures are perfect Easter presents for your family members and friends. 
I'll be glad to see you on my class!