Culturing Creative Floral Design
In the conversation of creativity, I must lay a few ground rules:
I believe floral design is an art, and florists are artists!
I also believe that only when one taps into their core values and driving motivations, can they create meaningful, fulfilling work with impact.
I don’t think creativity visits only the lucky few; or comes from the ether.
I think creativity has traceable sources, unique to each of us.
As a floral designer, and more recently as an author and teacher, I’ve invested a lot of time considering topics like creative flow.
How does one tap into their unique creativity. And, how does one express themselves through their work?
Sources of Creativity
Recently, two words popped into my head: issues and inspiration. I realized that, at least for me, these are the two sources of creativity!
So, what are issues and inspiration? I like to describe them as internal and external…
Internal issues include: driving motivations, principles, reasons for being an artist. For me, these include reverence for nature, desire to create pause, surprise, and stoke curiosity in others, desire to test and innovate, desire to promote floristry as an art, and a desire to celebrate seasonality and growers.
External issues include: time limitations/requirements, material availability, season, needs of space/job/client, environmental concerns, desires of an audience.
Internal inspiration includes ideas or preferences that you’ve collected through your experiences. You gather these during your upbringing, while observing nature, traveling, analyzing art, from media, learning from others, testing, practicing, and following your curiosity.
External inspiration can be found in materials- the color/form/texture of all design elements. It can be found in a space or setting- in the qualities of the environment in which you have to work.
For example!
The tall piece below was made for an art show in San Francisco last summer. I chose to play off the characteristics of the @blackwingclay vessels and industrial setting so made a black wire armature to use to support my materials ( inspiration ). I also chose to work with an armature because I knew I’d be limited on time, and didn’t know exactly what materials I’d have to work with ( issues ).
I chose to work with flowering dill because it is found everywhere in California that time of year, and I love to celebrate seasonality in my work ( issues ). I also chose passionflower vine, because it was the first flower I saw in my life that gave me pause - I return to it to hopefully offer pause to others ( issues + inspiration ). I chose to play with proportion and stretch the upward line of the main design to stoke curiosity in the viewer and to respond to the tall ceiling of the space ( issues ).
Creative Challenges
All work represents a weaving together of our unique inspirations and issues. Isn't that exciting to consider? When we define our driving motivations and analyze our work in this way, I believe we can really tap into the work we are meant to make.
In this video, I share more about my creative process and the issues + inspirations that allow me to stay inspired and in my unique creative space:
After the video, ask yourself:
Could introducing a new issue ( limitation ) coax out a new idea or expand a skill for you, like it did for me?
I’d love to hear all about your experimentations in the comment section below!
I hope this encourages you to join me in the work of promoting curiosity through the medium of flowers and pushing floristry forward. Follow me on Instagram for mini tutorials or find more inspiration in my new book, Flowers For All!
With love,
Ready to go further?
For more opportunities to learn and grow alongside other floral artists, join us in The Virtual Studio or check out my extensive library of self-paced online classes.
