So you have some amazingly bright boofy flowers and you wanted to do something a little different with them or wanted to present them in a different way? Have you considered placing them against a boldy printed background? Not only do you get that extra pop, but you also add extra texture to that print!
From the archives we have pulled this event photo where we have placed brightly coloured Dahlias on a glass table, which sits on a beautiful Zebra print rug. POP! Try it….right now!
We all have at least one super talented, creatively freaky friend right? Well here is one of mine. Alex Newton is a globetrotting, loud mouthed, sugar obsessed fashion illustrator hailing from Tasmania, who is now predominately based in Bristol, UK. Alex, similar to myself, appreciates that things should be bigger and grander, so when I recently asked him repeatedly to draw me a lovely lady in an outstanding piece of dreamy Floral Couture, he outdid himself!
Where do you find your inspiration?
I get my inspiration from many sources, I people watch ALOT. I can easily spend a day in a café scribbling away, getting ideas from passers by, a hairdo here, a certain cut there.
Ill also often hop on Google as well. I search old periods in fashion, say the 18th century, the 1930s or perhaps Chinese socialites, then once I’ve seen a few pages, I can’t stop drawing!
Then with all the things I’ve seen and I know mixed together, out pops a dame in outstanding garb!
What is your favourite flower?
My favourite flowers would have to be Roses, particularly in Yellow, Pink or White.
I do also enjoy Dendrobium Orchids. I spend alot of time in South East Asia and this beautiful orchid is everywhere, it reminds me of being on holiday in my favourite part of the world!
Any big projects your currently working on?
At the moment I’m teaching myself how to work on a larger scale. I’m toying with paint and canvas as well. This is all new to me as I usually stick to the familiar safety paper and pens. I’ve recently updated my web site and I’m hoping to get some work into galleries!
When your not being an rock star Illustrator, where could we find you?
My husband and I spend alot of the year traveling. It’s an amazing opportunity to gather inspiration! The cultures colliding in Singapore, the unexplainable chic style of Paris, ahead of the game London, its all around, I soak it up and let it all come out in my illustrations. I love to stake a front row seat in a street side cafe and spend the next 6 hours madly drawing everything I’ve seen. If I’m not doing that I’m either at a sweet store feverishly scoffing Haribo in the corner or at the gym trying to work all the sweets off!
Describe your style?
Glamour… floor length, big fur, big hair! I like to draw extravagant women in big clothes. I see myself as a modern day Erté. I stumbled across his work a few years back and couldn’t believe the similarities between our styles. He had covers for Harpers Bazaar in the 1910s and 20s and was the master of a big scene with fine details.
I am obsessed with anything Eastern, Middle or Far. I love oriental styles; they’re ancient and easily transferable into modern concepts. One of my characters often use, she’s the wife of a wealthy Middle Eastern business tycoon, she a mix of Sheikha Mozah, Mae West and a massive drag queen. Actually I think that sums it up!
If you could design anything, what would it be?
If I could, I would have a crazy shop, where you can buy a coat with a seven-metre fur trimmed train and a full-length 1930s gold gown dripping in crystals! If I could design and more importantly produce anything it would be that, an Aladdin’s cave of gaudy garb where I could work on and display my illustrations and art and have pieces come to life.
Who would you love to collaborate with?
I have recently discovered Pearl Lam, a Hong Kong/Chinese business woman from tycoon stock, who has created galleries which have amazing, some would say crazy, pieces of conceptual art. She, like me, loves the mix of east and west. I would love to work with her!
I love John Galliano, he was one of the first designers I think I ever knew about and I think he is one of the major influences in the development of my own style.
Alex just updated his website to feature all his new work, and if you ask nicely, he does work on commissioned pieces. Check the website out here!
So, if you have been reading my sporadic posts, you will note I have transplanted myself from Sydney to New York, which is literally a different world. Upon regular visits to the flower markets, florists and floral events, I am often asked all sorts of questions by floral people, such as “What are the florists like in Australia”, “Do they do this with flowers in Australia” and “Is that an English accent”?
After hours of Googling and no luck in finding the information I was after, I decided to make my own comprehensive “Guide to the Styles” HH style (HA!). In my opinion, there are 6 main styles of floristry, with variations, but below I have tried to do my best to describe them for you.
Rustic
For me best to explain the rustic look, I am going to direct you to flower goddesses (and gods) Saipua. Bits and pieces, flowers, foliages and sticks mixed and muddled into a natural, “thrown together” looking piece of visual harmony. The word “breathtaking” is occasionally thrown around here.
European
And by European I mean predominately German-influenced. Arguable the most notable master florist, Gregor Lersch and the rest of the MF crew over the years have developed some crazy pieces, from the tiniest of tiny to grand installations. Personally sometimes I look at work from the MF crew and think; “wow” and then more often then not I think “tack-o-rama”. This style is made by florists to impress other florists.
Ikebana
Natural, minimalistic and meaningful. Enough said. Junichi Kakizaki rocks it.
Modern
Colour blocking, angled flowers, en masse, I call this the “Jeff Leatham”. This style has now saturated the market and every second florist is doing it. This is the quickest way for any florist to make an “ahhhh” impression on consumers and charge top dollar for minimal flowers and “high” design. I say if you are going to do it, then reinvent it and do something fresh with this style or leave it to Jeff.
Classic
Traditional, lush, romantic and extravagant are the best words to describe the classic style. This style could also overlap with “English garden”. My version of the classic style is in no way associated with what I call “butchering of the classic style”. For a further definition of butchering, send me an email.
The classic style is full, fresh and beautiful, taking traditional flowers (Roses, Hydrangea, Freesias etc) and foliages and creating big boofy, either mixed or grouped formal posies and arrangements. Popular with most consumers, as it is the style that most people think of when they think of flowers and florists. See Cecilia Fox.
Renegade
The game changers. We need more game changers, more renegade florists. They take the world of the botanical and mix it in with design, architecture and art and inspire people to look at flowers in a whole new light. My hands down favourite artist and floral god is Azuma Makoto. Noone can compare to this dude!
Oh and I am Australian not English!
HH x
Recently, I was introduced to “The Arrangement”, a hilarious floral reality show from 2010 that was like when Project Runway meets flowers, but a lot more catty. I could only have loved it more if I was a competitor (bring it!)
What really impressed me was one of the guest judges, Justin Howard from Flaming Flower Productions. RENEGADE FLORIST ALERT. This dude is seriously crazy, which we love! He likes to make it all very dramatic and throw a little bit of anything and everything in with his flowers, from stripper heels to prosthetic limbs and his work is in high demand with an endless list of high profile clients.
He has made a few of this “How To” clips, from “How To Water Your Orchids” to “How To Get Laid” (our personal favourite). Make your next date night a little sexier with this arrangement! Check it out!
Earlier today I was flicking through one of my favourite magazines, Vogue Australia, and checking out what is in for Summer when the beautiful floral prints from Erdem’s Spring Summer 2012 collection caught my eye. From watercolour-like florals to bright and bold florals, Erdem Moralioglu does not shy away from a floral print, or really any print. This amazing designer is not only a Henry Hudson favourite, but also an inspiration! One day I will definitely be sporting Erdem, preferably these floral printed pants (when I can afford it), but till then a girl can only dream!
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