On Freedom to Evolve
Me, finessing the branch of curly willow to sit just right.
Back in 2019, I was a university student sitting in Art History 101, mesmerized as my professor taught us about the transformational evolution of art across the centuries. Especially fascinating to me were the Dutch Masters- painters active during Europe’s Golden Age of Art known for their still-life depictions of opulent floral arrangements, exotic blooms and fruit, rich colors, and compositions that feel like a feast to the eyes.
So naturally, when present-day-me saw that fellow floral designer and educator Alicia Schwede was hosting a Dutch Masters-Inspired Workshop, I eagerly registered!
Before taking Alicia’s workshop, I set myself an intention. I would approach my work with freedom- to change, edit and evolve- instead of existing within the confines of rigidity. Too often as a designer and a human, I find that I lock myself into one process, thinking that if I began a piece a certain way, that must be the same way I have to finish it. But isn’t that rarely how things work? I am learning that the creative process- much like life- is full of twists and turned to be embraced. To think that the way we begin is the way we must end allows no room for adventure and discovery….and those things, beautiful as they are, rarely exist in linearity.
As Alicia taught us about the use of light, contrast and bold color during her workshop, I happily selected my blooms of choice and went to town creating the composition. I got so far as declaring it “finished”, only to catch my eyes on a branch of curly willow in the corner of the room. It was wildly beautiful and unruly, the kind of material that would refuse to exist quietly in a design. I was captivated. Unable to look away from it, I plucked a branch with wonderful loops and squiggles and let my intuition guide me.
At the end of it all, I completely deconstructed and re-arranged a side of my compote to give this branch the room it needed to shine. The result? A centerpiece that burst with more personality, funkiness, and movement. A design that pushed beyond the boundaries of space and form, refusing to play it safe. And a renewed sense of trust in my own intuition and creative curiosity.
Friends, to whomever needs to hear it- let this be your reminder today that you are allowed to start anew. Receive the freedom to change and begin again- embracing that process with an open heart. Let your curiosity lead you into places more beautiful, and full of growth, than fear.
“I am learning that the creative process- much like life- is full of twists and turned to be embraced.”
A huge thanks to Alicia Schwede of Fleurs Creative, for creating an incredible educational experience. I highly recommend her Dutch Masters workshop to those looking to position themselves at the intersection of art and floral design to deepen their own knowledge. She hosts this workshop every spring at her studio in Snohomish, WA!
