Q What will you be doing at Art in Bloom?
A I'll be demonstrating five floral arrangements, from simple to complicated, showing various techniques. Being from Belgium, where the floral culture is so much more advanced, I view arranging as an art form. Flowers are a medium, just like an artist uses paints. The vase is our canvas.
Q Your work has been described as floral sculpture. How is that different from traditional flower arranging?
A It's more time-consuming because there's always a constructive side of it. I like to create things I can enjoy for a few weeks, changing out the flowers, so it's not all this work for only a couple of days.
Q You're known for incorporating unusual materials into your arrangements. What are some of the most offbeat things you've used?
A I use all kinds of things, depending on the season. I've used wool, seashells ... in Europe, we have these shells that look like long knives. And I use branches, twigs and rocks -- anything you can find walking in the forest or on the beach.
Q Have you ever tried an arrangement that just didn't work?
A Of course. The materials dictate, always. The branch curves this way when you were expecting it to curve the other way. You can't fight it. Sometimes it turns out better than you expected, sometimes just average, sometimes it doesn't work at all. Mother Nature still dictates when we work with her products.
