At the end of this strange year, Thursd has a floral interview with Teresa Skues. One of her designs is the brilliant cover of the book: International Floral Art 2021-2022. One of the books in our Top 10 list of the year! Teresa Skues is a freelance floral designer in Singapore.
For the bird on the cover of the International Floral Art publication, the initial inspiration came from the Nepenthes plant she has in her garden and the shape of the pitcher. Thinking it would be an interesting design to create a hummingbird hovering above the pitcher. She made a few different sizes of birds from wire before she refined the design. Using the Callicarpa Berries on the chest and the Pittosporum Leaf for the wings made the bird come to life. An intriguing florist with many interesting ideas.
A Floral Interview With Teresa Skues, Designer of the Cover of International Floral Art 2021-2022
They say this is the leading reference in the international world of floral art! International Floral Art is a bi-annual anthology of the fantastic and inexhaustible possibilities of working with flowers. It is a state-of-the-art collection of floral art and at the same time, it is an ode to the colorful diversity of nature and a celebration of human creativity and inventiveness. Each edition of International Floral Art is a cross-sectional look at the floral world: it is a synopsis of both up-and-coming and well-established designers. The 2021–2022 edition is another must-have and proves right away that COVID-19 was no match for creativity!
It is not a practical manual with step-by-step instructions, nor a themed book or a monograph of a particular floral artist. It is a depiction of very personal creations, phenomenally portrayed and most of them not commissioned. Add to this the international context, where people within the same discipline experience an identical universal floral language and you get a very exciting platform. Teresa Skues has three designs in this book that surprise and moves us.
Order this publication here.
Who is Teresa Skues?
"In Singapore, I work as a freelance floral designer. Quite some years ago when a friend asked me to join a flower arranging class, I decided to say yes. I had no interest in flowers but I was so full of joy and head over heels in love with flowers that I decided to go into floristry."
How did it all evolve?
"The class had taken place at the Singapore Flower Club. I later became the Treasurer and then the Club President. My passion was growing.
I obtained various professional floristry qualifications and spent countless hours designing, all of which have led me to develop my own sense of style. Having lived in Singapore since 2004, my European design style is certainly Asian-inspired.
In 2016 my hobby turned into a business, Floral Connexion. I work with individuals and businesses to create contemporary pieces of floral art, bringing together form, structure, and the stunning beauty of natural elements. Knowing my designs bring joy and pleasure to others is a feeling like no other.
I feel so incredibly grateful that I get to do what I truly love. In my workshops I aim to help others feel inspired and excited, just how I felt many years ago, to look at floral design in new and interesting ways."
Is it the first time you participate in the International Floral Art?
"It is the first time for me to enter the International Floral Art competition. Again a friend of mine was to there to convince me to enter my pieces. I hesitated, but I did it anyway. So happy with myself.
What does it mean to you to have your creation on the cover?
"I am really honored and humbled that my work was chosen. There are so many talented designers who enter. But I'm proud of my work, especially this time."
How would you explain your work? What was your idea, your inspiration?
"My work can vary. It usually starts with one thing that inspires me and the design develops from there.
For the bird on the cover of the International Floral Art publication, the initial inspiration came from the Nepenthes plant I have in my garden and the shape of the pitcher. I thought it would be an interesting design to create a hummingbird hovering above the pitcher. I made a few different sizes of birds from wire before I refined the design. Using the Callicarpa Berries on the chest and the Pittosporum Leaf for the wings, it brought the bird to life."
This is the Ninth edition of The International Floral Art 2021-2022, do you have more than one design in it? Which design is your favorite? And which one was the most fun to create?
"My favorite from the two besides the cover, is the blue/green bridal bouquet made from a small spider wireframe, Stipa grass, and beads. I love the color of the Stipa grass, and the elegance, softness, and movement created with this piece."
"The design the most fun to create was the piece with the natural colored Stipa grass and the chili. This piece used an abundance of contrasting materials and textures together as they would grow in nature. You can’t see it from the picture, but the design was created on a piece of wood with many different plant materials grouped together. This piece feels very natural and botanical to me."
Do you have certain goals, dreams for your future in floristry?
"My dream is to always keep trying, to achieve, to learn, to create and keep my passion alive. I feel you must never stop learning and there is always something new to try and discover."
