Floral Design Techniques w/ Sharon McGukin

Vincent van Gogh once said, “A floral designer is a master of transformation, turning humble flowers into extraordinary works of art.”

Join us for this podcast episode, as we explore Floral Design Techniques - the art of creatively organizing floral material placements to transform simple arrangements into stunning masterpieces."

How we Bloom podcast is an oasis of flower ideas. Host Sharon McGukin of Smithers-Oasis North America interviews floral guests who dare to do things differently. We listen, learn, explore new opportunities and that's how we bloom!

Transcript

Sharon McGukin: 0:06

Vincent van Gogh once said, a floral designer is a master of transformation, turning humble flowers into extraordinary works of art. In this episode, we explore the use of floral design techniques to transform a simple arrangement into a stunning masterpiece. Welcome to How We Bloom, an oasis of flower ideas. I'm your host, Sharon McGukin AIFD, AAF, PFCI, and I believe that every great success story starts with one simple idea. That's why we interview those who dare to do things differently. Inspiring people who plant seeds, grow ideas, and bloom to their full potential. In this podcast, we listen, learn, explore new opportunities, and that's How we Bloom. Consumers often perceive floristry as the simple and enjoyable job of"playing with flowers." In reality, this hardworking profession is a dynamic blend of technique and skill. Artistry and creativity. Science and geometry. Emotion and the profound joy of bringing beauty into the lives of others. To reach a professional level of expertise, one must first master the basics. In a previous podcast and blog, The Principles and Elements of Design, we discussed that these foundational concepts are the building blocks of any successful floral arrangement. As Vincent van Gogh once said, a floral designer is a master of transformation, turning humble flowers into extraordinary works of art. In this episode, we'll focus on floral design techniques, the creative method of manipulating or arranging floral materials to transform a simple arrangement into a stunning masterpiece. These techniques are not just practical tools, but an artistic approach to the personalization, dimension, and visual storytelling of your designs. By thoughtfully choosing techniques that enhance the structure and purpose of an arrangement, you can add distinctive details, creative flair, and emotional resonance to your design. When used effectively, these techniques elevate your work, making it both visually appealing and artistically impactful. There's a long list of design techniques that you can use in your work. Unfortunately, we can't cover them all in today's podcast, so we'll begin with 12 popular techniques. If you enjoy this information, please let me know, and I will cover additional techniques in a future episode. If you would like to see photos as we discuss these techniques, visit the Floral Design Techniques with Sharon McGukin blog, also on the oasisfloralproducts. com website. Basing and Terracing We'll start our review of design techniques with basing. To enhance the foundational area that flowers emerge from, we can use natural, decorative, or textural basing materials to cover the floral foam or other mechanic. This gives a nice finished look to the composition and helps give the flower stems a grounded effect. There's a variety of basing techniques that can be used to determine how to place the basing materials. One technique that creates visual interest is terracing, where the materials are positioned in a stair step fashion. This creates a series of horizontal levels, giving the effect of outdoor terraces in an open field. Terracing can be used to create depth in a design or to lead the viewer's eye into an arrangement. Next we have pavé. This term refers to the jewelry making process of lining up gemstones set close together in a flat pattern with no visible structure underneath. We can use short stemmed floral materials to create a similar effect. Insert parallel or angled materials into a design in a uniform pattern or tight row with little or no depth variation. For example, a pavé of roses. Pillowing is the process of clustering rounded or dome- shaped materials into a tightly organized pattern or placement in a design. This technique works well with natural materials, creating a look much like the rounded visual effect of clouds or pillows. Pillowing mosses, dome-shaped greens, or Kermit button poms can produce the visual effect of gently rolling hills. Banding and Binding. While teaching design techniques to floral classes, I found that many designers confuse banding and binding. So let's look at them individually. Banding is the process of encircling a stem, multiple stems, container, or line material in one or more precise rings. Banding is most often used as a decorative accent, but may serve a functional purpose as well. On the other hand, binding is a functional process. Materials are tied or secured together with some form of binding material. In addition to securing materials, the binding may also serve a decorative purpose. I like to think of banding as a decorative accent, like wearing a bracelet, and binding as structural reinforcement used for the design's stability. Clustering and Grouping. Like banding and binding, clustering and grouping are similar design techniques that are often confused. Clustering is the process of massing small, similar materials so closely together the individual singular components become indistinguishable as individual flowers. A cluster of carnations, for example, looks like one mass flower. Grouping, on the other hand, is the process of placing identical materials together within a specific, limited area, with each stem maintaining its individuality. Some amount of space typically exists between each separate group. Grouping materials together, rather than scattering them through an arrangement, creates a clean, structured, and unified look. Clustering materials in a mass of flowers indistinguishable as individual blooms differs from grouping because grouped components retain their individual identity. Both are popular techniques for modern arrangements. Repetition of elements like color and texture in specific areas creates a stronger visual impact for the overall composition. Framing and Shadowing Framing is the process of using linear branches of color. or flowers to showcase the floral materials inside a composition. Framing serves to outline and define the design space and typically leads the eye to the floral area of an arrangement. Framing integrates negative space as an element of the design. Shadowing is the close placement of one or more materials directly behind or beneath a primary material portraying the concept of'casting a shadow.' This creates a three-dimensional form and heightens the perception of depth within the design. Sequencing and Zoning Sequencing refers to the process of placing flowers or other materials in an orderly series with a gradual shift of some aspect. It might be color,(lightest to darkest), size,(smallest to largest), or spacing between the flowers. Like the sequence of growth from bud to bloom, to fully opened bloom. The technique evokes rhythm and transition in a design. Zoning is the process of segregating materials of the same type and similar height to specific growth or three-dimensional areas within a composition. In a vegetative design, for example, flowers of identical variety are positioned so as to suggest a natural growing habit. Each extending to a similar height within the composition for visual flow. This technique mimics how plants naturally grow in nature. It can be helpful for creating a cohesive, unified look in large scale designs. Floral design techniques, such as the ones we've discussed today, are used to make visually appealing and harmonious flower arrangements with a creative flair that connects to the viewer. Knowledge and use of proper design techniques demonstrates your expertise and artistry as a professional designer. Invest in yourself to increase your floral knowledge. Use floral professional resources, such as a book available from the American Institute of Floral Designers, the AIFD Guide to Floral Design Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. You can purchase on their website, www.aifd.org. Please share Floral Hub blog(for readers) or How We Bloom podcast(for listeners) with other designers. The podcast is available on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcast, and similar apps. Both the podcast and the blog are available at oasisfloralproducts.com along with other valuable floral information. To our audience, Smithers-Oasis, North America and I want to thank you for joining us today. If you've enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and be sure to hit subscribe. You don't want to miss the inspired solutions our upcoming guests will share with you for your personal or business growth. If you have topics or guests you want to hear, please message me. We'd love to hear from you. Until next time, I'm Sharon McGukin reminding you that like the unfurling petals of a flower, we grow by changing form, soaking inspiration in like raindrops, absorbing energy from others like warmth from the sun. This growth opens us up to new ideas and that's How we Bloom.