New year, new creative challenges! As a self-taught floral designer, each year I strive to push myself to continue experimenting and trying new ways to create with the amazing medium that is flowers. Here are the primary design concepts I’ll be exploring and playing with heavily this year - featuring floral art by designers I personally admire.

Edibles

We’re talkin’ fruits, veggies, herbs - you name it!
(left: a foraged arrangement I designed last year with osage oranges, basil, jalapeno peppers, and grapes)

I’m in a constant state of being incredibly inspired by one of my all-time favorite designers, Yasmine, a floral designer in Los Angeles who excels in incorporating edibles from mushrooms to fruits. Check out some of Yasmine’s work below:

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Hart Floral (lower left) and Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower (lower right) are also amazing designers who incorporate edible ingredients in their work. The inclusion of those tomatoes and peas (below) makes the arrangements extra special, unique, and evokes an extra level of freshness and wild abundance.

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Handpainted

The possibilities here are endless and, as a chronic doodler, I am SO excited to play around with painted florals.

All photos from this section are of Sophie Parker’s incredible work from WIFE in NYC. In addition to using brushes to paint botanicals, I will also be experimenting with the dipping method which is commonly used on tropicals like orchids and anthurium. Keeping sustainability in mind, a fun added challenge will be experimenting with predominantly eco-friendly, biodegradable paints made from natural pigments.

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Natural armature

Not just utilizing nature as a hidden structural base for designs, but having it be a key aspect of the arrangements themselves.
(left: large design by Anne van Midden)

Some of my favorite natural armature designs by local flower artist, Susan McLeary - check out some of her work below!

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There ya have it! My design focuses for this year, which will be the undertone of many of the arrangements created in 2023 - I hope these new areas of floral art will push me to grow as a designer and creative thinker, as well as share some extra cool flower magic with you!

Thank you for being along for the ride,

Sophia

whimsical, sustainable floral design

2023 Design Curiosities