The bus slowly rolled me along the winding roads leading from bustling Bishkek to quiet, calm Karakol. And although it was getting dark outside, it was impossible not to notice how spring was gradually but surely coming into its own. In Bishkek, the apricot trees had already blossomed, the snow-white flowers of which created an incredibly beautiful picture. And in Karakol, the cold weather had not yet retreated, and this duality and change of mood outside the window fascinated me.
An Incredible Splash of Creative Energy
My trip happened due to a happy coincidence. A request came from the capital to hold a floristic seminar. The Guild of Florists of Kyrgyzstan and sponsors joined the event, and I happily agreed. Learning and communicating with colleagues is always an incredible splash of creative energy, which is very valuable for me, but the process itself is very responsible. Preparations for the event began immediately after the intense March holidays.
The theme of the seminar was formed based on the requests of the listeners: some were interested in window dressing, while others were interested in a bouquet. Therefore, the first day included a lecture on the basics of floristry, with a gradual transition to techniques for decorating a store window. The task is quite extensive and difficult. This time, I decided to demonstrate to the students works in vases based on designs, starting with simple ones and gradually moving on to more complex ones. It was necessary to present the composition as a floristic work. And I started with two vases.
In transparent vessels, the fastening of materials must be done so that the technical elements are not noticeable. It is certainly easier to work with opaque vessels, but here it is also important not to forget about the reliable fixation of all the details. Then I demonstrated more complex compositions and touched on the topic; they differ from a floristic object.
Starting Their Acquaintance With Floristry
Of course, two days are not enough, especially for beginners who are just starting their acquaintance with floristry. Such events are more intended for those who already have some idea about the topic, or just for inspiration.
From my own experience, I can say that not every florist can clearly define the types of floristic work. Creating a product is only half the battle, it is equally important to present it correctly. By the end of the day, we had an impressive number of works, which could have easily been a show. The students were happy, and this was the best reward for me.
The second day was devoted to bouquets in the spiral and parallel techniques. Each time, while conducting training, I am surprised by the variety of results. And it should be noted that everyone's parallel bouquet turned out to be at a high level. I showed my last demo works more measuredly, which, perhaps, helped the students better grasp the essence of the process. For my part, I received a huge boost of positive energy and am ready to continue on my way.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the Guild of Florists of Kyrgyzstan, especially Liliya Petrovna Khan, for the excellent organization of the event. And I cannot help but mention the sponsors—the companies 7 Flowers Kyrgyzstan and Orangereya Flowers Bishkek—for the plant materials they provided. Their willingness to support our initiative touched me very much.
Florist: Petr Anokhin, Photography by Belekova Aysalkyn.
