Hobby Course In Floral Art
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday April 15, 1992
FLORAL art is a creative, satisfying hobby that enables you to beautify your home at little cost, according to Rosalind Bean, of Killara.
She runs day classes in floral art for Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community College in the former public school building at Mona Vale Road, St Ives, opposite the shopping centre.
"Obviously, some people have more talent than others but everyone can learn to a certain standard if they are keen enough," Mrs Bean said.
"Everyone can learn the basic principles and enjoy doing flower arrangements for the home.
"This is a hobby course and the students are generally women, but men are welcome and occasionally enrol. Usually, the men are very creative."
At each class, students are told what type of arrangement will be taught the following week, so they can bring appropriate flowers and foliages.
"They can bring flowers from their own garden, or buy one or two bunches at a florist shop," Mrs Bean said.
"I don't like them to spend more than $10 a week on materials.
"If we are doing a posy, for example, I ask them to bring short-stemmed flowers.
"If we are doing a tall arrangement suitable for a church or reception room, they bring long-stemmed flowers and foliages."
Mrs Bean, an experienced teacher, did a floral-art course at TAFE and then a two-year commercial floristry course at TAFE School of Rural Studies, Ultimo. Later, she worked in several florist shops on the North Shore.
She teaches four terms a year, each term lasting eight weeks.
Classes generally have about 14 students, enabling Mrs Bean to give individual attention after each demonstration.
"The shape, colour and texture all add up to make successful arrangements,"she said. "Some people are very good at picking colours and putting them together.
"Shape is the hardest thing for the students to learn, and I try to help them.
"Sometimes students will say there is something wrong and I will just move one or two flowers and they can see how it has improved the arrangement. It might balance the arrangement better."
The students make posies, suitable as gifts, and foliage arrangements(which comprise greenery but no flowers) and do traditional and modern arrangements.
They are encouraged to be creative and use their imaginations.
"That's what floral art is all about," said Mrs Bean.
For enrolment details, phone Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community College on 482 1189.
The college also runs floral art classes with other teachers at Pennant Hills High School, Mt Colah Community Centre, Killara High School, Asquith Boys High School and Cherrybrook Community Centre.
© 1992 Sydney Morning Herald
