An edgy twist on the gentler art of flower pressing, pounded flower art is a chance to create something beautiful while also getting a bit of exercise and working off any latent aggression that you’d not realised you were holding on to.
You’ll need a collection of flowers – the more colourful the better. Flowers from your own garden are lovely, but you can always cheat and buy a bunch that you like. You’ll also need a sheet of watercolour paper, a paper towel and a mallet. If it turns out really well, you might want a picture frame, too.
Pick the flower heads from the stems and lay them face down on the watercolour paper, arranged in an attractive pattern. Place the paper towel on top of them, then take your mallet and pound the petals into the paper, beginning at the outside and working inwards, but avoiding the polleny centres, which don’t look so pretty pounded. The colours and shapes of the petals should ‘take’ onto the watercolour paper beneath, leaving a lovely pattern.
Peel off and discard the paper towel and flowers, then admire (or frame) your handiwork.
This project is from our July Almanac pages, which have lots more seasonal things to note and notice, plan and do each month.
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