Oshibana: Pressed Flower Art

Japan · flowers · art · craft

Flowers get flattened. In oshibana, artists place flower petals and leaves into a special press that squeezes out all the moisture and makes them paper-thin and flat. This takes the delicate parts of nature and preserves them forever.

Nature becomes paint. Instead of using brushes and paint, oshibana artists use their pressed flowers and leaves like paint colors to create a complete picture. Each petal and leaf becomes a brushstroke in an entirely natural artwork.

Started in Japan. Oshibana began in 16th century Japan, making it an art form that has been loved for hundreds of years. Today, people all around the world practice this beautiful craft.

Takes patience. Creating oshibana requires time because the flowers must be carefully pressed, dried, and arranged. But when it's finished, you have an artwork that can last for years without fading.

All natural. Every part of an oshibana artwork comes straight from plants. No paint, no glue showing, just the real colors and textures of petals, leaves, and stems arranged into art.