Week 12 - Staircases and Conclusion

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have invested time into your craft, business and future. Choosing staircase design for our final lesson is symbolic of this. There is always so much more to learn but through this course you have taken steps to improve and have arrived at the next level of your journey in floral design. Also symbolically, this lesson will dive into perspective. What is right here in the foreground and what is visible in the mid ground and background.


Perspective in Art

According to the Tate Gallery 'Perspective in art usually refers to the representation of three-dimensional objects or spaces in two dimensional artworks. Artists use perspective techniques to create a realistic impression of depth, 'play with' perspective to present dramatic or disorientating images. Perspective can also mean a point of view – the position from which an individual or group of people see and respond to, the world around them. You might, for example, hear people saying 'from my perspective' or referring to the point of view of a particular group or set of beliefs: 'the youth perspective' or 'the feminist perspective'.

So let's talk about perspective in floral design and how it effects the client perspective.


Depth Perception

Depth perception is the ability to see things in three dimensions (including length, width and depth), and to judge how far away an object is. Adding dimension to your designs keeps them from appearing "flat" or seemingly two dimensional.

When I create an individual floral design or a complete room design I want to consider three elements so that I can increase the depth perception of my work. We need to consider how we employ foreground, mid-ground and background.

Foreground is the part of the view that is closest to the client. Mid-ground is the point between the foreground and background. Background is the part of the view that is furthest away. All three of these views should be considered when creating designs.

For example the arbor created in the last lesson included all three of these. The skirting on the left is built forward to created foreground. The mid ground is the decor on the front of the arbor and the background is added by allowing florals to shoot out of the back of the arbor.

Once the arbor is inside of its environment we need to add mid ground with something in the aisle and foreground by putting something at the end of the aisle or at the entrance. This makes the image that the photographer takes less flat and creates a dimensional and visually interesting design. Basically you are framing the image for them. All good two dimensional images contain these three elements in order to create perspective. I like to know that the images seen by my clients after the event will have flowers in all three sections of their photos.

Another way to employ dimension to a room is to add layers like we do in our individual designs. Placing things at different heights and if possible working from the floor to the ceiling. For example, in a reception you could have flowers flowing over a table to the ground in the foreground and then the centerpieces in the mid ground and a hanging installation in the background.

Layering your event space creates a wonderland for the client that translates into guest experience and continued scaling of your business.


Staircases

The wonderful thing about staircases is that they automatically give you the platform for dimension. Both foreground, mid-ground and background as well as floor, middle and top view.



Watch the Video Part 1 and 2


https://www.dropbox.com/s/8lf5y7k10zlxga5/Florist%20Class%2011%20%28No%20Intro%29.mp4?dl=0

Time to Practice

Please write your recipe down in the style format (medium rounds, laterals etc...).

Please record yourself designing the staircase and watch it. Critique your work using the principles and elements of design.

After you finish then photograph it from the angle that the event guests would see it. So in the case of a wedding a staircase show image straight on and also from every angle guests will see it. This way you can see if your design is lush and dimensional.



Complete and Continue