Creating Moss Art

Exploring Moss art

Recently, I had the opportunity to create a Moss art frame. My local library had a two-hour workshop regarding this art form. Moss art is the art that takes Moss from trees, rocks, and stone and uses it to create a living picture. Anyone who loves botanical art would find this art craft tremendously fun.

Moss art has been around for centuries, It can be traced back to Japan where Moss was used in creating Japanese Zen and bonsai gardens. Through the years Moss has become very popular in modern art. Moss has been used in sculptures, vertical gardens, and wall art all popular choices for bringing nature indoors while remaining low maintenance.

Moss art symbolizes peace and natural beauty, there's a sense of connection to nature that nurtures stability, and resilience.

When I first got to the workshop, the teacher instructed me to choose the items for my jewelry tray frame. There was an array of mosses, tree bark, pebbles, sticks, acorns, lichens, pinecones, cinnamon sticks, dried peppers, dried mushrooms, ferns, and dried grasses.

There were also faux materials such as silk flowers, paper butterflies, greenery mats, plastic ferns, and faux resin eggs.

After gathering my materials, I was instructed to use the "Rules of Three," which involves grouping three objects together to create a visually attractive and well-balanced design.

First, I laid out my materials, trying to work out a scene. I wanted to create a feeling of a close-up world. In my fantasy world, a butterfly was visiting a small nest of Robin’s eggs.  A bumble bee resting near a chipmunk's stash of acorns. There is a tree bark that is being hugged by growing foxglove, lavender, and hydrangeas. A whimsical world of nature’s little gifts all having a centering moment of attention.

After I found the layout that felt right for me, I carefully pulled out the items and began to use wood glue and hot glue to reconstruct the design. The whole process took from start to finish around 2 hours.

Thrilled with my design and feeling quite at peace, I placed it in my kitchen to add some nature to my room. Some of the moss has gotten a little brown but it only adds to the beautiful of the piece.

If you would like to try something like this, I have created the below directions for you to easily follow.

Instructions For Moss Art

Materials:

Sheet Moss

Cushion Moss

Mood Moss

Tree Bark and Sticks

Small Stones and Pebbles

Acorns and Pinecones

Leaves

Lichens

Ferns

Dried Grasses

Spices

Cinnamon Sticks

Dried Peppers

Dried Mushrooms,

Bay Leaves

Star Anise

Mustard Seeds

Dried Ginger Slices

Whole Nutmeg

Saffron Threads

Faux Materials

Artificial Sheet Moss

Fake Cushion Moss

Artificial Wood

Faux Lichens

Plastic Ferns or Grasses

Fake Rocks

Silk or Plastic Flowers or Leaves

Foam Board

Jewelry tray

Resin Epoxy to seal over the faux moss

Decorative Greenery mats

Tools

Hot Glue Gun

Craft Glue

Wire Cutters

Craft Knives

Directions

When you have chosen your materials, create a few layouts to see what works for you, and what feels right. Google Moss Art and to find inspiration.  Take a few photos of your layout so that when you go to reconstruct it on the board or tray, you have the look you want to achieve. Most importantly, have fun with this.

**********************************

For me, creating this moss art inspired this free verse poem.

A Peek Into A Mossy World

A moment to see

Nature is free

Oh what glee

A bee sits with an acorn of three

How the tree

Is the key

To gift a feeling of everlasting  jubilee

Because time is not a guarantee

***********

I hope that if you get the opportunity to try this art medium, you give it a try!

Thank you for reading!