Michelle Pujol Botanical Artist

Pressed flowers: using pressed flowers to help design.

2021-05-13T22:38:00.004+10:00

Pressed flowers: using pressed flowers to help design.

So I'm getting ready for my workshop at Mount Coot-Tha botanical gardens this weekend (16th May 2021). As part of my artist residency with the gardens I present a monthly free workshop gearing around my work. I have decided from the beginning of the residency to use these monthly creative art workshop as a way to help others add a little bit of creativity in their lives, to think outside the box and try different materials and techniques to encourage a daily practice of making, drawing, and observing.

So why do I pressed flowers?

We all, or most of us have had those moments of being out in a garden, park, wedding and picking a flower and popping it into a book. Whether as a child or to remember a romantic gesture or just to preserve a flower. I think this is another way of connecting a memory or moment of time with a keepsake unique object. As a designer I tend to use pressed flowers, usually gathered whilst sketching or walking as a colourful bi product of my daily practice. An object that develops over time in the back of my sketchbook over time, to create and designs with. The flowers gathered are beautiful and usually i capture an image of them on my hand (see above). The pressed specimen then becomes distorted, the original shape flatten over time taking in each fold or ripple until this once 3D object then becomes 2D and a different object of interest. When I gather these objects up I can play with their shapes putting together layered designs that I can then draw on to create jewellery or illustrated watercolour works of art.

These compositions could quite easily sit alone in a glass frame and perhaps I will get to just seeing them as that but for now they get used over and over to play with composition of shapes and forms I can use in my art.

How to press flowers

Old fashioned Wooden Flower Press

Layering up like a sandwich you place the flowers picked between sheets of paper, cardboard and 2 external wooden sheets. This can then be fastened by straps or screw with a wing nut option and tightening a little each day. No one ever expects the Spanish inquisition! LOL

This is by far the most transitional way of pressing flowers and the scale is up to you, just remember to use blotting paper for the flowers in your layering and change it every 7 to 10 days to prevent browning. Allow about a month before harvesting these pressed gems

Press Flowers Using a Book

So i grew up in a time when we all got yellow pages directory for free every year. For a younger audience this was the world’s heaviest book with the best blotting paper for pressing flowers. We had this option growing up and of course the good old Encyclopedia Britannica. Both excellent source of heavy dated reading matter that you didn't mind mashing up with flower juice.

Now in a digital world, you could either source second hand big books or just simply place your flowers in an old book with other books on top to weigh it down. It will do the trick. If you don't want to ruin your book sandwich your flower between a folded piece of clean blotting paper. This will also take about a month

Press Flowers Using an Iron

So this one I have not tried yet for fear of burning the house down or ruining the iron, but will do the experiment in the next couple of days and pop up a video with the process and results. So it takes a bit of preparation, use a dry iron and pre-press your flowers between 2 pieces of absorbent paper like paper towel between the pages of a heavy book. Transfer the flower between 2 fresh pieces of paper and Iron the flower on a low heat, moving from one side of the paper to the other in firm smooth movements for 10/15 min. Stop when flower seems dry and stiff.

There are some great blog posts and articles on the internet and here are a couple of my favorites with added bonus about flower selection, how to prepare them and other tips and tricks.

Pro flowers
Wiki How

The best thing to do is get in, have a play and see what you can create at the end.

Feel free to share your creations on my events page on Facebook or leave a comment on this blog.

Have fun!

My own hybrid of orchids in silver

2021-05-13T21:27:00.035+10:00

Oops !!

something went wrong.

I was tiding my blog-post and went to look at this draft and accidentally published it. Now i cant put it back in its time zone and I don't want to loose the images and dated content from 2015 of experimenting with orchid and their shapes as it holds fond memories of beautiful creations.

So enjoy the pics!

To blog or not to blog?

2021-05-12T22:34:00.000+10:00

Well hello there,

I'ts been a long time coming but I'm back!

After posing the questions " Are blogs still relevant " to my social groups on Facebook and getting a lot of mixed feedback with a few really good things to think about. I took a moment to rely think about this in terms of creative outlay. I it then poses the questions are blog post and the process of posting and writing articles still relevant to me?

For a long time I've been resisting the tug of a written article choosing an image and Instagram post to say it all, all the more wanting to say more. The process of blogging had become a way to journal a way to talk out loud, much like singing the shower, even if no one is listening just to release the bubbling excitement of creativity into the world. Again there has been some comfort in the image orientated world of Instagram. it has served as my check in, my picture book of time experimentation, highs and lows, and more. However, now that we are in the post Covid fog of 2020 I find myself wanting to say more, do more, help more find their way to a creative happy head space. to take on my motto of " a creative life is a happy life" and I hope by writing again I can encourage myself to find the words for the fine threads of thoughts that I have for my work.

So here we go again.

Slightly different than before but I thought instead of starting a new blog altogether I might just use this platform for now to get me into the habit of writing again and see where it takes me by the end of the year. I also thought about filling in the pages from 2015 to 2021 (now) but instead I will link you to my Instagram page and Facebook page and you can catch up as you would like

What to expect from my blog:

My process of making, jewellery and painting
Inspiring creative process
Botanical art in all contemporary forms
Inspiring artist
news and events
links to website and socials

Thanks for reading!

Michelle

P.s. I've included a short little blooper video I did for a casting for a T.v. series...... many takes later it was submitted. This blog may be a bit the same, so be patient, be kind and lets see where this story takes us together.

Orchids: my continued inspiration.

2015-08-19T14:52:00.000+10:00

My weeds to wildflowers body of work is growing at an enormous rate. I've found myself making ranges of what appears to be very similar styled species but the more I look at the flowers varieties the more variations I find within each group. Orchids are one of these and they seem to be shapes within shapes put together like puzzles to make an abundance of choice. When I look at wild orchids there are 1200 - 1400 species to choose from but I've still managed to make a few of my own highbred designs.

Here is a beautiful photo collage of native wild orchids in Australia on: www.cpbr.gov.au

photo collage
by
Identifying Australian orchid Genera

I still find it fascinating that for every wildflower I find there is a similar looking flower that is considered to be a weed.

Mondays inspiration: Watercolour demo by Fabio Cembranelli

2015-08-17T11:25:00.001+10:00

I found this beautiful video link from the Artist and illustrators Magazine Facebook page.
Watch how wet he works and how he both puts the paint on and takes it of with the same brush. His colours are also vivacious because they are clean and layered to create depth.
Enjoy!

Workshop Demo - Italy 2013

Featured Gingko Earrings

2015-04-07T12:40:00.001+10:00

So fantastic to find my Gingko earrings featured "IN Noosa Magazine"..... These will be available in my shop by the end of the week. Stay tuned!

BrisStyle fashion pop up: it's a wrap!

2015-03-19T14:07:00.000+10:00

Here's a beautiful shot from this weekends Brisstyle fashion parade and pop up market. I was one of 6 designers showcased in a pairing of local fashion designers and jewellers.

What a beautiful shot to sum up an elegant pairing of dresses from @massuri_design with my jewellery! Thanks BrisStyle for putting on such a wonderful event.

Dress by Massuri
Jewellery by Michelle Pujol

Deconstructed Myrtle ring
Sterling silver

Wildflower stem hooks
Sterling silver

Fresh of the bench: Orchid bush leaf range

2015-02-28T13:37:00.000+10:00

New work taken from the bold stylized leaves of the orchid bush tree. The shape is highlighted with a blackened patina wick is brushed on in the curve of each leaf reflecting blues and greens as the patina matures and then is neutralized before becoming black. I'm loving the boldness of these shapes and they have been a good addition to the "Botanic's " exhibition.

Orchid Bush leaf ring
Sterling silver, oxide patina

Orchid Bush leaf pendant and earrings
Sterling silver, oxide patina

Orchid Bush leaf pendant
Sterling silver, oxide patina

Stay tuned these will be coming soon to my online shop.

Watercolour and wine

2015-02-16T12:34:00.000+10:00

"Orchids"
Watercolour and pen
by Michelle Pujol
2015

A productive relaxing afternoon of flowers, watercolour and wine.......loving getting back to using all my creative talents.

Fresh of the bench: Gingko leaf range

2015-02-14T17:47:00.000+10:00

Here is some new work I recently made for an exhibition at The Coastal Artisans gallery along the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. The exhibition was entitled "Botanic's" and showcased 12 artisans from the area exploring this theme. For me it, as always, it was an excuse to explore new forms in my botanical art. These Gingko leaf earrings and pendants come from the up cycling of some large but heavy lotus leaf shapes in silver that have been sitting on my bench for a while. They have a lovely feel to them and seem far removed from the original pieces .....all in all a success I think. The skirt like frill is edged is finished with a bit of brushed on patina to add a bit of contrast, and fresh water pearls on the pendant keep the pendant fresh.

Gingko leaf earrings
sterling silver, oxide patina

Gingko leaf pendant
sterling silver, oxide patina and fresh water pearls

Freesia: Water colour sketch tutorial in 5 steps

2015-02-06T22:13:00.002+10:00

So this week I gave my first "still life : sketch and water colour class at the beautiful Collective Store, in Wynnum. So I decided to start posting a few tutorials on my blog, perhaps it can help others. My style is quite minimal in colour and illustrative as I always use a pen to finish of and add some details. So it makes it different to the norm.

Why not try this at home.

Enjoy!

Freesia

Image taken from my Pinterest folder: Flowers.
(Link attached below)

Step 1

Lightly sketch out the flower
(HB pencil)

Step 2

Work your shades of green from lightest to darkest using a fine brush
( viridian green, dark green, hint of blue)

Step 3

Work up the flowers from light pinks, to deeper crimsons.
Add a bit of brown to your pink to finish of buds
with thicker paint and a finer brush add stamen texture.
(white, crimson, blown)

Step 4

Once dry, add a watery film of yellow over the flowers and buds
(yellow)

Step 5

Using a fine liner pen add pen to detail areas or pull petals forward visually
Note: work must be dry before using pen or the colour bleeds.

Classes for February:

          "Petals to paint", still life drawing and watercolours for beginners
           at: The Collective store, Wynnum, Brisbane
           Date: Weekly on Wednesday
           Time: 12:30 to 2:30
           Cost: $50 per person (all equipment supplied)
           Phone: (07) 3129 4606
           Booking essential as classes are small

           Beginners Botanical art class
           at: Sidestreet Vintage, Bulimba, Brisbane
           Date: Thursday 26th February
           Time: 10:30 to 12:30
           Cost: $50 per person (all equipment supplied)
           Phone: (07) 3399 2729
           Booking essential as classes are small

Additional Links:
Freesia photograph

The Botanics exhibition

2015-02-05T08:55:00.001+10:00

So exited to be a part of this exhibition.....I'm putting the final touches on my pieces today.
More images of my work to follow.

Forging Components for Jewelry with Nile Fahmy

2015-01-24T00:30:00.000+10:00

One of the most common questions I get when I attend markets is "how do you forge metal", often people think of metal as being malleable like clay and the idea of using hammer and anvil to make something delicate seems foreign to them. I'm yet to put up a short video of my own forging process and its something I will attempt this year. So I found this little video on line and thought it would make a fantastic Friday tip feature, as well as still linking in to component forms to make larger pieces.

Please note: This short film does advertise Nile Fahmy classes, but as I do not know of his work I cannot personally indorse it.....I have purely used it to give a good example of the forging process.
For further information please contact him directly!

20% Clearance sale: Michelle Pujol Jewellery

2015-01-23T17:24:00.001+10:00

Having a little sale over on my web site....... www.michellepujoljewellery.bigcartel.com

It starts tomorrow from 6:00 am. Eastern standard time. Whilst stock last.

Uncontrollable beauty: Junko Mori

2015-01-22T12:00:00.000+10:00

Featured artist: Junko Mori

Part 2

In looking at Junko Mori work more closely, I found her metalwork pieces intriguing and the similarities in process to my jewellery sculpture uncanny. Perhaps this is because of the organic botanical subject matter and allowing the form to develop fluidly. This quote I found from her artist statement when exhibiting her work at the Holburne Museum seemed most appropriate.....Enjoy!

"In my making process, I do not pre-design my final work but let the components grow."

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Hydrangea
2011

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Hydrangea
2011
close up

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Lichen diversity
2011

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Lichen diversity
2011
close up

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Silver jubilee
2011

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Silver jubilee
2011
close up

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Hydrangea
2012

Junko Mori
Uncontrollable beauty: Hydrangea
2012
close up

More of her beautiful work can be found: www.junkomori.com

Trying out some Bloglovin!

2015-01-21T07:57:00.002+10:00

Follow">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4785593/?claim=mp4x8mez5wz">Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Featured artist: Junko Mori

2015-01-21T00:30:00.000+10:00

Featured artist: Junko Mori

Part 1

With my mind shifting some of its focus on seeing some of my creations in larger sculptural forms, featuring this weeks inspirational artist is quite apt. Junko Mori creates volume in her sculptures by allowing her work to grow in a fluid way by assembling smaller elements in mass. Here are some of her beautiful works and a brief artist statement from her site: http://www.junkomori.com/

Junko Mori
Organism; Mild spikes
2011
forged mild steel, wax coated with dried plants, red chilli

Artist statement:

Born in 1974, Yokohama Japan

Based in North Wales

I am always drawn to the visual impact of an aggregate assembled with many small components and find infinite possibilities of the form multiplied by the vital power beyond the physical space, such as cell division through a microscope.

My work consists of multiples of individually forged steel or other metals, and the subtle difference of each piece results from hand hammering. No piece is individually planned but becomes fully formed within the making and thinking process. Repeating little accidents, like a mutation of cells, the final accumulation of units emerges within this process of evolution.

The uncontrollable beauty is the core of my concept.

Junko Mori
Organism; Mild spikes (close up)
2011
forged mild steel, wax coated with dried plants, red chilli

Junko Mori

A Silver Organism; Twisted Leaf

2011

Forged Fine silver 999

Junko Mori

A Silver Organism; Twisted Leaf (close up)

2011

Forged Fine silver 999

Junko Mori

Propagation Project Textured Spikes

2005

Forged steel, wax-coated

Junko Mori

Propagation Project Textured Spikes

2005

Forged steel, wax-coated

Junko Mori

A Set of Five Silver Organisms

2009

Forged Fine silver 999

Junko Mori

A Set of Five Silver Organisms (Close up)

2009

Forged Fine silver 999

Junko Mori

A Set of Five Silver Organisms (Close up)

2009

Forged Fine silver 999

There is a beautiful selection of Junko Mori's sold and available works on:

http://www.adriansassoon.com/contemporary/metalwork

As well as many other prolific artist.

Hand made Ceramic Rose. Italian Ceramics of Bassano

2015-01-19T02:00:00.000+10:00

With my returned interest in ceramics I seem to be finding these little inspiration or how to make videos all over the place. I think this lady may have been making ceramic roses her entire life..... It's like watching a dance.

Enjoy!

If you have a video to share send it through to me and I can feature it on my Monday techniques or Friday artist inspiration feeds.
As with most my sites, if it Botanical, Ethereal, Flower, Plant, Boho, Whimsical, Artistic, Crafty or shows a technical proficiency then I'm sure my audience will love it as much as I do. So I'm happy to share!

Lorna Fraser - Ceramics

2015-01-16T00:00:00.000+10:00

Fresh from the artist Fridays!

Here is Lorna Fraser talking about her own inspiration for her work. Beautiful ceramic sculptures!
A perfect example of the difference in application to the subject or inspiration of seed pods and seeds.

2015 will see my blog shift focus onto inspiration as I bring you not only my own work and how it's made but also other artist talks. Fridays will have artist talks and featured artist works. These will run across the artistic realms of art: jewellery, ceramic, painting, illustration, sculptural, instillation, glass, print and video.

It's a way of bringing my visual journal into the 21st century and making it easy for me to find as well as inspiring others.

Porcelain flowers

2015-01-14T00:00:00.000+10:00

Here are some wonderful master craftsman that use porcelain to create soft delicate, realistic flowers in a medium that can often look bulky or tacky. They seem to excel in still capturing the fragility of the flower beautifully! These examples where found through Pinterest.

Lada Peskova

Vladimir Kanevsky

Working in clay, as with working in metal, there is a fine line between adding substance to piece and adding volume especially when working with the delicate subject matter of a flower. I think its our own connotations with it that seem to determine its level of success. A seed or seed pod is fine to make bulky and robust, large in volume, large in size, it is hardy reality and so can imitate this in art. Some flowers and leaves seem suited to treat the same way it would seems, a big protea flower can be built up with layers and layers of textures and lotus leaves are large to start and so the association is not a big leap.

In my work, jewellery is already small in stature but I take even smaller things than the end piece and blow them up and highlight aspects of plant or flower, as I did in my "overlooked: weed " range of jewellery in 2014. I make them robust and use a variety of thicknesses and textures to add volume but I still keep it visually delicate. This year I have started to think of my work and imagine my work as larger wall mounted pieces or sculptures. An area I seem to be researching more and more looking for ways I can take my work to the next step and more and more I seem to be finding my way back to ceramics, a subject I majored in many years ago. It makes me smile as my creative journey seems to circling back. This year is truly going to be a year to use all my talents once again.

5 South Korean Ceramic And Pottery Master Craftsmen Show Off Their Skill...

2015-01-12T08:30:00.000+10:00

Happy New Year!

2015-01-08T14:37:00.001+10:00

Happy new year! I'm back!
2014 was a crazy year that saw me spin out of control a little (hens the lack of blog posts I just could simply not get there amongst other things) but I've taken a few weeks of to plan 2015 and its looking spectacular!

I hate to sound like a feel good banner but I think its about time I worked smarter not harder.

As with all creative business there's always room to grow and improve and my business is no different.

My plan/ goals (in part):

For starters I'll be blogging again, finding artist that I can relate to and showcasing them as well as my new creations as they are made. I've realised that even blogging has its place and I think it helps me to plan and strategies. It also gives me a sense of my achievements as they happen and can be reflected on later, like a visual diary. On my blog I will be doing more bench time and techniques to help others, as well as showcasing other artistic tips, in jewellery, ceramics and painting.
I'll be going back to more exhibitions and boutique shops, with less markets. I usually alternate this on annual basis to keep my creativity energies up, so this year that would have been the case any way. But with that I intend to make making sculptural artistic pieces a priority with galleries in mind. Through dynamic displays, instillations or even make them more sculptural all together. This does not mean I will neglect my usual pieces that people have come to love, but commercial spin offs from these seem to come easily to me these days so you will still see fresh pieces on my website.
I've been reminiscing on some old skills such as painting and ceramics so I'm hoping to bring those in a little more this year even if they are initially just for me.
I'm going to put the call out for collaborative projects, fashion shows and photography shoots. I miss the camaraderie and energy of working with others and its a good way to change my way of thinking and learning new skills.
I also think creative swops are good as well. So look out for these advertised on my Instagram and Facebook pages
I'll start investigating that coffee table book of my work I've always wanted.

Well that sounds like a good place to start and some very achievable goals.

What are your creative plans or creative business goals for 2015?

12 Days of Christmas

2014-12-13T14:01:00.000+10:00

Don't forget to head over to my web site to get your special, unique, handmade Christmas gift.

Cultivate: New artisans

2014-09-02T09:42:00.000+10:00

My exhibition pieces are coming on nicely for this one......cant wait to show you my new creations.

Spring flowers

2014-09-01T10:58:00.000+10:00

These are a few of the flowers I saw last year on a trip to New Zealand's, South Island......its taken me this long to edit them but a spring day reveal is worth the wait. These have just been taken from my point and shoot basic camera.... you should see the images my husband took with his fancy one.
Wow! Double wow!

Happy spring!

Michelle Pujol Botanical Artist

Pressed flowers: using pressed flowers to help design.

Pressed flowers: using pressed flowers to help design.

So why do I pressed flowers?

How to press flowers

Pro flowersWiki How

My own hybrid of orchids in silver

To blog or not to blog?

Orchids: my continued inspiration.

Mondays inspiration: Watercolour demo by Fabio Cembranelli

Featured Gingko Earrings

BrisStyle fashion pop up: it's a wrap!

Fresh of the bench: Orchid bush leaf range

Watercolour and wine

Fresh of the bench: Gingko leaf range

Freesia: Water colour sketch tutorial in 5 steps

The Botanics exhibition

Forging Components for Jewelry with Nile Fahmy

20% Clearance sale: Michelle Pujol Jewellery

Uncontrollable beauty: Junko Mori

Trying out some Bloglovin!

Featured artist: Junko Mori

Hand made Ceramic Rose. Italian Ceramics of Bassano

Lorna Fraser - Ceramics

Porcelain flowers

5 South Korean Ceramic And Pottery Master Craftsmen Show Off Their Skill...

Happy New Year!

12 Days of Christmas

Cultivate: New artisans

Spring flowers

Pro flowers
Wiki How