This picture was taken at the Minnesota State Fair.
This is an example of crop art on the expert level.

For 2007, The Tulsa State Fair is instituting a new feature known as Crop Art. Interest in this field of creative art has necessitated the issuance of some information for anyone interested in this form of artistry. Seed and plant parts of field crops, horticultural crops and tree and shrub plant parts which can be grown in Oklahoma may be used.

Crop art involves the use of seeds instead of paints to create a work of art. Paints are permitted as part of the background.
Lovely seed mosaics, seed plaques, and irregular forms such as birds and animals can be made from seeds and accessories. Even the beginner can create seed mosaics, etc., after a few simple instructions. The following paragraphs should be helpful for beginners to get started.

Seed Mosaics

Nature’s seed possess colors and textures which lend themselves to the making of seed art objects. We shall confine ourselves to field crop and horticultural crops, seeds, and tree or shrub plant parts, nuts, etc. Weed seed, or seeds of cultivated kinds which will not produce a crop of seed in Oklahoma are excluded in the State Fair competition. See the State Fair listing for eligible seeds and plants.

Seeds. Start collecting seeds of the eligible crops from whatever source is at your disposal. This could be at your local seed store, or from your farm friends, or from seed catalogs (many sell as little as one pound), or at country elevators, or through your local garden club or arts center, or even from your garden.

Backgrounds. The material selected should be rigid. Try 3/16 inch plywood. Also useful are the Masonite, canvas board, heavy map board, unfinished such as paneling. Some artists cover the back board with some kind of fabric such as burlap, linen or similar textured fabric. The wood background when shellacked or clear varnished is just as appealing. When employing a fabric over the rigid backing used, cut the fabric at least one inch larger than the board on all sides. Pull taut and glue and tack to hold in place. Allow to dry.
Tracing the design is more difficult on fabric than on a hard surface. Use graphite carbon and soft pencils to trace the design on to the background.

To Proceed

1. Trace the design onto the surface. If a skyline is needed, add it first with paints.

2. The seeds are attached to the background with Elmer’s or Fullers glue. Use plenty of glue. Start by applying glue to the lines of the design which has been traced on to the background. Do small areas at a time. Have the seeds handy in saucers or cups. Use a round toothpick or similar tool and place a small amount of glue on it for picking up and placing the seeds. Large seeds can be handles with tweezers or fingers.
Keep glue off the surface where no seeds will be applied. Allow the glue to dry hard. Avoid flexing the support board during drying.

3. Seed selection for the best colors and textures is part of a successful mosaic. Experience and a good selection of seeds are necessary and the beginner may make two or three mosaics using the same design with improved selection each time. Avoid as much as possible dying or artificially coloring seeds to obtain certain colors. Dye or color seed only if absolutely necessary to get a certain color, such as reds or blues.

Size Small to medium art or seed mosaics are the most interesting. With birds such as wild duct, one-half to two-thirds normal size of the bird is best. The same holds with making rooster seed mosaics. Consider the use made of the mosaic as a guide to size selected. The long length of the mosaic may be either vertical or horizontal, depending on the design selected. Note the maximum size permitted under the State Fair rules. Beautiful mosaics may be 12”x20”, or even as small as 10”x15”, while other may need to be 20”x30” in size.

Framing Always frame rectangular or square mosaics or finish the edge to appear finished. Select frames which blend well with the mosaic. Irregular forms are not framed.

Preparation for showing The mosaic should be fitted with picture hanging wire or with hooks, if small, for hanging. The superintendent may hang the mosaic or possible stand it on a form, depending on the space available.

Finishing Use a clear lacquer spray, clear plastic spray, or clear varnish, over the seeds and the supporting background if of wood. Apply after the glue has dried thoroughly. The finish coat will hold seeds together better and it will also bring more luster and color out of the seeds used.

Textbook references: Eleanor Van Rennsseler. Decorating with Seed Mosaics, Chipped Glass and Plant Materials. Published by D. Van Nastrand Co., Inc., Princeton, NJ.

Crop Art Rules
(Simplified)

Amateur, Advanced Amateur and Classes
The Crop Art exhibit is divided into two general areas—“Amateur” and Advanced Amateur”. Both of these are subdivided into classes.

What’s the difference between an Amateur and Advanced Amateur? An Amateur has to win four blue ribbons in four year to be able to compete in the Advanced Amateur Class. This has the effect of having a fair competition. Since this is our first year everyone is encouraged to compete in the Amateur Class.

Classes of Crop Art

The amateur and advanced amateur areas have the same classes. For example, there is a “Special occasion commemorative” Amateur Class and a “Special occasion commemorative” Advanced Amateur Class.
Odd numbers are for Amateur and even numbers are for Advanced Amateur. There are different classes in the Crop Art exhibit. Here are examples of Classes. Class number will change.

Class 1 and 2:
Natural colors, no paint allowed
All seeds, nothing else. This is usually the category with the most entries. No “irregular” forms. Usually that means the crop art should be square or rectangular.

Class 3 and 4:
Paint allowed on 30 percent of the art
Seeds can be dyed or painted. Backgrounds can be painted.

Class 5 and 6:
Irregularly-shaped, can be three dimensional
These can be cut-outs or sculptures as long as they are covered with seeds. Paint is allowed in this class.

Class 7 and 8:
Special occasion commemorative
This is a very flexible category. Entries can commemorate a national holiday or someone’s birthday, or a child’s birth announcement. Other examples would be Halloween, Fourth of July, Christmas, or Oklahoma’s Centennial.

You can enter as many classes as you like, but you are allowed only one entry per class. Should the exhibit warrant we will add a class for Novice, (for first timers) Junior, (for 12 and under) and Senior (60 and older) in the future.

Premiums
Winners will be awarded ribbons and premium money. Not all places are awarded in each class.

Legend cards
“What are those?” All Crop Art entries must have a 4x6 inch legend card attached. All seeds used must be listed with a seed sample. That way Crop Art judges and viewers can tell what each picture is made of.

The real rules
The information in this article is condensed drastically from the official Crop Art rules. You can obtain the official rules from the Creative Arts handbook or on the website www.tulsastatefair.com