What you need to know as a florist How to choose floristry courses for beginners? Of the related materials, the florist will need

25.03.2020

Florist Specialty both art and practical work with flowers as a natural material. There are a lot of areas of application here: interior design (this is usually done by a florist decorator), wedding celebrations, arranging bouquets, window dressing and even cars.

To date, there are many vacancies for a florist in Russia, but the specialty is taught mainly in private schools or courses - this area is very poorly developed in state educational institutions. More specifically, where they teach to become a florist, we will tell in other articles.

It is interesting to note that in Europe (especially in Holland and Germany) this specialty is widespread, and the training period is about 5 years.
Some people study floristry on their own, but a florist without experience is not very easy, since the lack of theoretical knowledge, classical foundations sometimes hinders rapid professional growth, but even so you can achieve high professional results. You can start your career by working as an assistant florist.

Florist shop

Both men and women can work in this area, but it is believed that this is a predominantly male specialty. Complex and difficult physically, it is not suitable for all women. Thus, in the world championships in floristry, the percentage of women is only about 25% of the total number of participants.

One of the most important qualities of both a professional and a novice florist- passion for his work, complete immersion in the field of activity, when flowers are not just a working material and tool, but the whole world in which he lives. Only such an attitude allows you to “not fade away”, develop, learn new things, see perspectives and horizons and create real works of art. Other important qualities necessary for the florist - diligence, patience and accuracy, because flowers require very careful care. And the most desirable specialty for a florist is biology, botany. Do not forget that, of course, artistic taste is of great importance.

Wedding floristry

Is the profession in demand? Yes, definitely. Like any high-class specialists, there are very few truly good florists. In order to become a true professional in your field, you need to spend a lot of effort, gain experience. It is important to note that today Russian specialists participate in many international competitions, winning prizes.

Florist Jobs- flower shops, design studios, companies involved in the design of celebrations and holidays, etc. The most important criterion when applying for a job is a portfolio, a list of skills and achievements.

Wreath of flowers

Career provides not only continuous professional development, but also international Florist Cups, which take place all over the world. Winners receive high ratings and can count on good jobs and expensive orders.

CONS OF PROFESSION FLORIST

Nervous work: interaction with many customers, some of which can be demanding and even capricious
A large amount of work: flowers must be fresh and well-groomed
A lot of physical activity: it is often necessary to lift heavy tanks, carry boxes and boxes with fertilizers or flowers.
High risk of exacerbation of chronic allergic diseases - many plants can cause contact allergies

If these difficulties did not frighten you, let's move on to the pluses:

BENEFITS OF THE PROFESSION:

Work with flowers, give joy to other people and see their happy eyes. Making the world a little more beautiful and better
Unleash your creative talents and abilities
Constantly develop, study and discover new things, becoming a true specialist
Have an interesting and well-paid job

Features of the profession

A modern florist is engaged not only in compiling, decorating bouquets of fresh flowers, the range of services he provides has recently expanded greatly. Specialists decorate interiors, various objects with the help of flower arrangements. Often, professionals use dried leaves, original branches of shrubs or trees, flowers, moss to form them. The art of creating poetic images requires from workers not only fundamental knowledge about plants, but also the ability to master general principles interior design to create unique masterpieces.

Where can you get an education

In many educational institutions of the country there are faculties such as:

forestry;
landscape architecture;
floristics;
biology and others.

Young people receive in-depth knowledge in the field of floristry both in higher educational institutions and basic information in specialized courses, where a certain level of qualification is assigned, which makes it possible for profitable employment.

Where do florists work

The field of activity for such a specialty is huge. Considering that not a single solemn or mourning event is complete without flower decoration, the profession of a florist is almost in the forefront in importance. All the inhabitants of the planet draw saving power in art, and nature presents its amazing plants that excite, give peace, rest and leave no one indifferent.

An active energetic person can create his own business:

open a flower shop;
set up a wedding planning service company, solemn events, funeral;
for the provision of landscaping services;
for the design of premises, facades, etc.

A real specialist will not do his job soullessly. Now many employers of medium and large businesses prefer to have a florist on their staff. They want to have active, friendly and not indifferent to their occupation people in the team.

realization of creative ambitions;
opportunity for professional growth;
material benefit;
demand on job exchanges;
training and acquiring skills in a short time at various courses and seminars;
participation in organized competitions of any level.

The beginning of a creative path is not always easy, successful. Inexperienced flower shop workers learn how to make simple arrangements. Gradually, acquiring skills, they move on to the complex design of respectable halls and premises. Ordinary salons that only sell bouquets cannot provide a comprehensive professional growth florist. For beginners, a hands-on experience in an ordinary flower shop will serve as the beginning of a new exciting path to create perfect, beautiful images.

What qualities should a florist have?

The work of masters requires a constant search in making unexpected decisions. This is not an easy task, but people with a special vision of the world around them are able to fill our lives with vivid impressions. Some description of the character traits will help determine the image of a person who wants to devote himself to floristry.

Endurance. AT flower business craftsmen have to deal not only with decoration. Intellectual work is combined with heavy physical exertion: lifting containers with earth and plants, transplanting them to more favorable places. But that's not much of the time-consuming routine that florists have to deal with.
Diligence. Plants require careful and attentive care. They should not be left unattended even for a short time. Some flowers need frequent watering, while others, on the contrary, do not like moist soil. A gentle, reverent attitude to seasonal varieties will help prolong their freshness and attractiveness.
Courage and fantasy. When decorating a room, the ingenuity and imagination of the florist will turn any office, living room, bedroom or dining room into a unique and attractive object.
Goodwill. The friendly nature of the master, along with his experience, knowledge, attracts a constant flow of customers. Many professionals have the true qualities of a diplomat. The ability to negotiate with a buyer or customer is half the battle.

The creative profession requires a constant search for unexpected solutions. In the work of a florist, the possession of artistic flair and unbridled imagination brings not only inner moral satisfaction, but also a considerable income.

Choosing future specialty, each person must weigh the pros and cons of the profession, think about whether he can do this all his life.

People should not be afraid of the fact that some of them are prone to allergic diseases. Of course, this is a minus, but there are always alternative solutions. You can make original items, interior details, cute little things using natural materials: dried leaves, flowers, berries and much more. People can now make unique masterpieces without leaving their homes. Well organized product advertising in social networks, online stores, art or flower shops, attracts a huge number of buyers and tangible financial profits.

Six tips from Alexander Bermyakov, winner international competitions on floristry, on how to collect bouquets.

1. FIND A GOOD TEACHER

Before you go to floristry school, get a job as an apprentice at a well-known shop or a well-known florist. Work, for example, a year. Firstly, after this time, you will be able to understand whether you need floristry or not, because this profession is for fanatics. It also requires a lot of physical strength, and takes a lot of time.

Secondly, having worked as an apprentice, you will learn the names of flowers and plants, styles and types of compositions, and much more. With such baggage, you will understand what the teacher tells you about in the classroom at the floristry school.

2. PREPARE FOR FUCKING WORK

Get ready for the fact that you, having settled down as an apprentice, will sweep the floor for a long time, wash vases and cut flowers. No one will trust a beginner to arrange bouquets, garlands or wedding decorations. You will be attracted to work with flowers gradually. All famous florists have gone through this, some of them have been scrubbing the floor for three years. And if so, then you should prepare for the fact that at least a year you will earn very little.

Remember: you have come to learn how to make a flower even more beautiful than it is, and learn how to compose both wedding and funeral arrangements. A florist must be able to do everything, he does not have a clear specialization, like a doctor.

3. DO NOT HESITATE TO COPY OTHERS' BOUQUETS

You can't read much in books on floristry, because they mostly consist of illustrations. It's okay, buy them and flip through, look, study drawings and photographs. True, you need to know that in Russian good books there are practically none in floristry, mostly they are all published abroad.

Practice is your most important assistant. There is nothing shameful in the fact that at first you will repeat famous people, because only in this way will you bring your skills in composing flower compositions to automatism.

4. DON'T GET INVOLVED IN COLOR SYMBOLS

Of course, knowledge of the symbolism of flowers and flower etiquette is a big plus. But today this knowledge is not so relevant. You could even say that they are outdated. The thing is that up to 60% of the plants indicated in the description of the symbols and the rules of etiquette are either almost impossible to get or not used at all.

The florist should be guided by the wishes and preferences of the client. For example, if a man orders a bouquet from you with asters - a symbol of sadness, compose such a composition that, having received it as a gift, the woman will not even think to be sad.

5. DON'T MISS CLOTHING SHOW

Personally, I always try to watch Fashion Week at least on TV. After all, floristry follows designers. At the show, you can see, for example, a hat, which you will then make from flowers for your exquisite client.

There you can also see new fabrics and materials that you will use not only in making flower arrangements, but also in decorating rooms for celebrations. Therefore, in addition to observing fashion designers, it is good to follow interior designers, to know what novelties they use and what you can borrow from them when you decorate a restaurant for a wedding, for example.

6. GO TO FLOWER SHOWS MORE

Ride on international exhibitions floristry, do not spare money. The exhibitions let you keep abreast of what new techniques, ideas and flowers have appeared this season. It is quite possible that you will be able to use them in your work, because a successful florist is always striving to surprise his regular customers.

You can also find flower suppliers at exhibitions. Personally, every year I go to exhibitions in Holland and Germany to keep up with the times.

Zotova Irina

Not a single wedding is complete without the services of a florist: drawing up a bridal bouquet, decorating the hall, creating a flower arch, screens are difficult to do on your own. But people of this profession decorate not only celebrations, they make ordinary days more beautiful. It's nice to look at a harmoniously composed composition of flowers, a neat flower bed, a beautiful landscape in the park. All this is the work of a florist.

What is floristry

Floristry comes from the Latin flora - "flower, plant". It is a kind of design, arts and crafts, where compositions are created from a variety of natural materials: flowers, tree bark, dried leaves, berries, dried flowers, etc. A person who knows the art of floristry knows how to correctly combine plant species, colors, materials for composition. Like other art forms, floral design has its own styles and techniques.

Profession florist

The profession of florist originates in Ancient Greece. More than 3000 years ago, the Greeks began to actively use flowers and fruits to decorate ceremonial wands. Everyone knows the wreaths, which served not just as decoration, but as a reward, and were widespread in Greece and Rome. In India, flowers were given only to loved ones. And the East is famous for a separate direction, still popular - ikebana. Various plants have long been used in heraldry, depicted on the coats of arms and flags of states, settlements.

The specialty of the florist is not considered widespread. People who work with flowers, trees, natural materials do it mostly for the soul, because they themselves enjoy the result of their labors. Even 10 years ago, working as a florist did not require special education, but the growing demand for skilled labor prompted educational institutions to introduce this direction into their training programs.

Since 2009, the profession has been officially registered in the state list of specialties, which allowed technical schools and universities to conduct training in the profession, and organizations to introduce them into staffing tables. It can be said with full justification that a florist is a creative professional engaged in plant design.

What does a florist do

At first glance, the work of a flower designer may seem narrow-profile, but the responsibilities of a florist are varied and depend on specialization - a decorator, a seller in a store, landscape designer. The representative of this profession should be able to:

make bouquets, panels, garlands, other flower arrangements;
sell ready-made bouquets;
decorate rooms, showcases, etc.;
care for "working" plants, flowers;
create landscape compositions, figures;
participate in landscaping gardens, control the planting of plants, for example, in park areas;
sometimes you have to independently engage in the selection, cultivation, care for the plants necessary for work.

What does it work with

To create his composition, the florist uses a variety of different types plants - indoor, garden, ornamental, dried, potted flowers. Needed for creative work and auxiliary materials, for example:

to work with flowers, shrubs, grass, trees, you will need scissors, pruners, a knife;
to strengthen the composition - floral foam, wire, glue, ribbons, pins, paper;
for decoration, giving effect, aesthetics - beads, rhinestones, sparkles, shreds of fabric, sweets, soft toys, etc .;
containers - baskets, pots, vases, boxes, etc.

How much does he earn

For representatives creative professions and commercial workers are rarely given fixed wages. The income of a florist who combines these two criteria depends on the level and quality of the product provided, the number of sales. For example, before the holidays, the demand for flowers increases, which means that a percentage is added to the salary.

An important criterion is specialized education: serious firms, wedding salons, studios offer a good salary, making requirements for the presence of a "crust", portfolio, work experience. A specialist earns an average of 20,000 to 50,000 rubles. Wage representative of this profession differs in different subjects of the Russian Federation and is slightly below the average for the region. Its highest level was recorded in Moscow.

How to become a florist

A florist is a creative profession, therefore, in order to become a good specialist, you must initially have certain inclinations, talent, and a desire to work in this area. Educational institutions provide an opportunity to study the subtleties, acquire the skills of this profession, hone skills, which will help in further work by specialty.

Requirements for a florist

In the profession of a florist, initially people go who love and want to work with flowers, herbs, to create something beautiful that adorns the world. When working with plants, the designer will often have to contact people, discuss the nuances of the future creation, etc. We can distinguish the following qualities, abilities, requirements for those wishing to work in their specialty:

artistic taste;
creativity;
perseverance;
accuracy;
sociability;
lack of allergy to plants;
the availability of knowledge about the care and other features of plants, for example, their compatibility with each other, relevance to a particular person, occasion, etc.

One of the most popular hobbies today is DIY floristry. This is the name of the arts and crafts of composing flower arrangements. The goal is to create a special atmosphere for certain events or holidays. If you want to try yourself in such creativity, then learn more about it from the information below.

What is floristry

Floristry is the art of arranging bouquets. This is one of the types of design, the result of which are flower bouquets, panels or collages. Such work has both a technical and a creative side. The purpose of floristics is the design of any holiday or event, the expression of their theme or idea through natural compositions of flowers and leaves. Novice designers in this area should pay attention to simple collages or bouquets. As a result, such a hobby can become a real profession. Where to start - learn the basics of floristry for beginners.

Making bouquets

In this creative and exciting activity for beginners, there are a number of simple but important rules. First of all, you need to decide for whom the bouquet is for a man or a woman. The occasion for which such a gift is presented is also important. According to these criteria, they choose the type of plants, their number, color and size. Before making a bouquet, beginners are advised to mentally imagine it in a ready-made form.

Floral compositions

When compiling floristic compositions from roses, lilies, carnations or any other flowers, the main thing for beginners is the observance of proportions. This applies to the proportionality of the vessel and plants, buds, vase and leaves. In general, the composition should be harmonious. The golden ratio in floristry also works. It is as follows:

If the bouquet is located vertically, then 5 of the 8 parts should fall on it, and the remaining 3 on the vase.
When the composition is more elongated in the horizontal direction, i.e. the plants are in a low vase, the shortest branches are 3 parts, and the longest are 5. Or in other words, a long flower is 1.5 times the diameter of the pot.

Making bouquets of fresh flowers

There are different types of bouquets. The main classification is female and male. In addition, there is a division according to the purpose of the bouquet:

wedding;
children's;
mourning;
daily;
holiday.

Decorating fresh flower bouquets for beginners can be tricky, so only one type of plant is recommended. This makes it easier to deal with the shades, shape and type of bouquets. The main type is massive - there is no space between the elements, and the plants are presented in an amount of no more than 2-3 varieties. In addition to them, there are the following bouquets:

round;
buttonholes;
free;
unilateral;
flower jewelry.

Bouquets may vary in size. The big ones are for birthday parties and the small ones for weddings. In general, the technology for compiling for beginners looks like this:

determining the shape of the bouquet - the number of plants, their compatibility;
cut of plants;
assembly of elements into a bouquet, decoration;
placement in a vase with water.

The combination of flowers in a bouquet

One of the essential elements of the success of novice florists is the combination of flowers in a bouquet. It is very important to feel which shades complement each other, and which ones simply cannot be used together. In addition to the harmonious combination colors, it must be chosen correctly. Warm shades will enliven the bouquet, and cold ones will make it more restrained. The first include orange, red and yellow, and the second - blue, green, purple. With the help of a warm range, you can visually bring the elements closer. Cold shades, on the contrary, push the details away.

Making bouquets of fresh flowers

In addition to compiling the composition itself, its final design is important. Decor should not draw attention to itself, so unobtrusive decorations are considered the best option. Packing fresh flower bouquets for beginners has a number of features. The main condition is to arrange bouquets depending on the destination:

New Year's - figurines of birds, greens, sweets;
for the birth of a child - hearts, bears, small toys;
romantic bouquet - butterflies, beads, stars;
for a wedding - white, openwork, airy elements;
autumn bouquet - twigs with berries, birds.

Making bouquets of artificial flowers

If you need a bright and durable composition or there is no way to care for it, then the best option would be to make bouquets of artificial flowers. To create them, beginners and experienced florists use different materials- fabric, wax, metal, beads, paper or leather. First of all, a pattern of the element is created, and only then it is assembled from blanks. The whole composition may look different. A bouquet, a plant in a pot, a basket or planter, garden elements are standard options for floristry with artificial flowers.

Materials for floristry

The main material for floristry are different elements vegetation. It can be live, dry or artificial flowers. All of them are further divided into 3 groups:

Linear plant material. These are long stems, tall ornamental plants, large leaves.
The main plant material, or dominant. These include large inflorescences and buds, bright leaves.
Additional material, or filler. This group includes medium-sized elements - buds or leaves, the function of which is to cover the fasteners.

Along with plant material, there are also floral accessories. Their function is to complement the composition and intent of the designer. A variety of parts are used as accessories:

bows;
tapes;
candles;
shells;
animal figurines;
pebbles;
bells;
stands.
materials for floristry

Florist's tools

Any beginner or someone who is already seriously interested in floral design will definitely need the tools of a florist. In any composition, it is important to fix all the elements with something. For this, floral foam is used. Flower pins are used for the same purpose. Only with their help, ribbons are attached, which is necessary for decorating the stem or masking the wire. In addition to these tools, beginners and experienced florists use the following:

Pliers and cutters. Necessary for cutting and working with wire in general.
Flower pruner, garden shears. They must be sharp so that the cut of wooden twigs or thick stems is even.
Glue gun with sticks. They are used for fixing foam in a vessel and creating bouquets of artificial flowers or dried flowers.
stapler. Brackets can be attached to various small parts.

Secrets of floristry

To prolong the freshness of bouquets, you should choose plants that live longer than others. You can also keep them cold and change the water more often - every 1 or 2 days.
A mandatory rule is that there should be an odd number of plants in the bouquet. Even is suitable only for mourning occasions.
The size depends on the occasion. For a serious celebration, you need a bigger bouquet. Compositions with a diameter of 25-20 cm are considered a universal option.
It is recommended to form a bouquet from the most voluminous element, which will be the center. The following details are added in a spiral fashion. An interesting option- a combination of flowers of different textures, for example, roses and hypericum or red gerbera.

Floristry training

Now schools or just floristry courses are very popular. They provide a range of services for those wishing to learn this art. A beginner florist or a professional can visit them. Introductory classes, lectures, master classes and seminars, during which you can not only learn about the design of bouquets, but also try to compose them yourself. In addition to special courses, there are other ways to study as a florist. Beginners can watch online video tutorials or master classes and even read interesting books.

Master classes in floristry

Many floristry schools offer master classes for beginners. Some of them are free to access, while others are available for a fee. This applies to video courses. There are other master classes in floristry, where a person can attend in person and even hone their skills together with a teacher. This option is better, because you immediately get theoretical and practical knowledge.

Floristry lessons for beginners

On the Internet in free access You can view a variety of floristry lessons for beginners. Some of them are presented in video format, which greatly facilitates the learning process. Clay ceramic floristry, the history and styles of this art, the basics of European arrangement, original packaging, wedding, anniversary and other techniques. You can consider all these options in detail in such lessons.

Floristry and design courses

The best option is to take a whole course of floristry. Many professionals in this field are also involved in training. Floristry for beginners in courses is easier. They can be taken in person or online. It all depends on the particular school and its teaching methods. After successfully completing the program, you will be able to receive a certificate that will allow you to work as a florist. This profession is not only exciting, but also very creative and even enjoyable. Having learned such a thing, you will already be a non-beginner florist and will be able to give others the beautiful.