Share my journey of creating a floral art bridal design for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2014.Alas this design didn't win a prize but I have learnt how to make a gorgeous butterfly frame! The theme was for a gardener who was getting married. After stumbling upon a great snail photo I decided to incorporate snails into the design. This was probably a big mistake as the snails and Celosia overpowered and dominated the design detracting away from the beautiful orchids. Needless to say I am definitely going to make this bridal bouquet again (minus ugly snails) as I really love the idea of a butterfly as a wedding bouquet. |
Steps to follow to create great Floral Art:-
BRIDAL:
- comfortable to hold (soft - not abrasive) - how to hold it should be apparent
- consider the appearance when held (bride view, sides, front) - ensure a good profile
- light in weight and balanced
- any framework should be an integral part of the design
General:
- suitable for the theme
- emotive
- do not include too many design ideas - keep it simple
- immaculate presentation
- technique and workmanship
- use flowers as they would grow naturally
Colour:
- 3 colours 70:20:10 of each
- no. of shades per colour
- surface texture
- darker tones give depth of colour
Composition:
- plan using form, shape, texture and contrast for harmonious effect
- too many forms is confusing - too few boring
- movement & rhythm - create motion and rest to the eye. Achieve with Repetition and variety of forms
- dominant areas allow the eye to rest
- visual balance
- proportion and scale - relationship between the elements
- space gives definition to individual areas in a design
- unify the whole design to achieve harmony
Technique:
- perfect flowers - conditioned - durable for period of display
- neat finish - no frayed ribbon or glue showing
- stability - properly anchored materials,
The butterfly frame was made from stubb wires wrapped with ribbon. I designed the frame to have different levels by incorporating a heart shaped frontal set of wings with further levels adding dimension behind these. Some of the wings were covered with spider netting to give a transparent and delicate appearance. The end wires for the eyelets and antennae were finished off with suede textured beads.
Checklist | My butterfly design |
Bridal Suitability | Yes the butterfly was nice and light to carry with comfortable finger loops and could be rested with care on the table without getting damaged or hooked onto it's vase stand. The profile of the butterfly was considered - the frame was arched to give a dome shape bending back over the brides hand whereby the bride could see the design. The multi-dimensional wings provided a good side view as well as the frontal heart shaped wings. A butterfly is a gorgeous theme for a wedding bouquet thus making the frame an integral part of the design. |
General Suitability:- -Theme | Butterflies abound in the garden and are beautiful. In hindsight it wasn't necessary to also incorporate the snails although I thought it a unique and quirky idea at the time. Looking at the photo, it was just totally wrong and unbalanced the design due to excess Celosia and snails which compete for dominance when they should take secondary place in creating interest for the eye to follow. |
- Emotive | Revenge on snails was part of a garden theme, however, if the snails had been more hidden it may have created more of a delightful surprise rather than detracting from the initial impression. A bouquet in the shape of a butterfly is not common so I would expect some positive emotional response to that. |
Colour:- | As stated previously the colour of the Celosia and snails detracted from the beautiful orchids. Using lighter tints of pinks and lilacs to create an analogous colour harmony may perhaps have worked a lot better to showcase the orchids. |
Composition:- | The flower choice and placement let this design down as the use of the Celosia and Orchids did not unify in any way. Greater expression of form would have been realised with the Ornithogalum and succulent trails without having to use the Celosia and snails. The butterfly itself provided a delicate base texture to support the flowers and the Stachys leaves created a natural furry feel indicative of a butterfly's body. The proportion of the design was spot on, comfortable and fit for purpose. There was however a lack of space and rhythm - the repeated pattern of the snail and Celosia caused the design to blurr and detracting away from the multi-dimensional butterfly with its separate wings. |
Technique:- | The flowers were glued on with great haste and the Celosia and snails were rather gobbed with glue (disaster!). The Stachys leaves started to unstick in transit due to their weight therefore I had to sew them into position. The rest of the flowers stuck in position well. The finger loops were attached after the frame had been bound together. They would have been more rigid had they been incorporated at the same time as making the main frame. |
Bibliography
Owen, L (2010) "Floristry Competitions" no place of publication stated: Lynda Owen
Pinterest www.pinterest.com
Vanden Berghe, M (2010) "Flowers in Love 3" Oostkamp/Belgium: Stichting Kunstboek
Van Gansbeke, R et al (2008) "Floristry Basics Materials" Oostkamp/Belgium: Stichting Kunstboek bvba