Casting Flowers: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Beautiful Botanical Art

This pleasant debut from Dein shows how to create bas-reliefs of plants. The basic process involves using a rolling pin to press flowers into clay, removing the plants, and then pouring plaster into a wooden frame placed on top of the clay, which is later peeled off to reveal the relief image. Breaking down each step, Dein offers pointers on arranging flowers, recommending that readers position stems at slight angles to make them look more naturalistic. When working with plaster, Dein advises plugging any leaks in the frame with clay and contends that leaving some of the clay on the finished cast can help accentuate finer details. The process for every seasonal project is virtually identical, differing only in which plants are recommended for the designated time of year. For instance, an early summer project involves positioning circular nasturtium leaves face up to create something resembling a polka dot pattern, and one autumn piece entails filling the lower half of a clay slab with an oak branch, fern leaf, and blackberry bramble. The comprehensive instructions provide all readers need to get started casting, and explanations on how to create reliefs from concrete or layer different colored plasters highlight the creative possibilities of the medium. Crafters will be inspired. (May)