The Art and Science of 21st Century Floral Art Education...

The Unique Approach To Teaching Floral Design @ Rittners Floral School....

At Rittners Floral School we have a tradition of teaching floral designing that spans sixty years making us one of the longest running programs of our kind in the United States....

Teaching floral art is all that we do... Not a secondary business.... Not a hobby.....

This kind of historical perspective puts us into a rather unique position....

It means that we have seen lots of styles and approaches to floral art come and go.... But more importantly to you.....

It means that we have had the time and internal history through the years......to perfect the very best techniques to teach floral designing efficiently.... and just as importantly....to know how to do so in ways that are lots of fun.......

Through sixty years of quality teaching, we've developed the internal continuity to learn and know what really works best (and what does not) in teaching floral art................

Our approach is fresh and exciting, funky and fun... But just as importantly.........it is also dictated by outstanding teaching methods and approaches........

We feel that when you take a floral design course, you need to have the confidence that unique and contemporary educational techniques are being used to facilitate your learning.........and that the school where you are learning, really knows how to break the information down and explain it so that you understand exactly what you are doing... and why..........

Teaching floral designing is really more than someone posing and showing off how great s/he is. In fact an instructor with the ego the size of a barn is the last thing you need or want when you are trying to learn.......

For us at Rittners, teaching floral design is not something to feed the teacher's ego... It is very much a student centered process....We wish to learn your floral art strengths and weaknesses and try to help you develop your skills as a designer............

And if you are a total beginner... Don't fuss.... We start simply and develop from there.....

Teaching floral art requires more than simply work benches and a nice display of flowers....... At Rittners Floral School in Boston we have strong live presentation skills........

We also enjoy media support systems, integrated computer presentation systems, specialized floral art library and audiovisual materials...the kinds of things that are necessary to support our educational mission.....

Part of the professional enjoyment we get is the fact that floral art is constantly changing and evolving.........Applying educational approaches to that is quite satisfying to us......And our school and teaching reflects that.......

For example......

Did you notice the evolution of that classical design in water with a Christmas holiday motif presented above?...... It was/is pretty, isn't it?

Although no comments were made as to the construction, you could see a nice progression and evolution of a very lovely arrangement....( Go back up a few inches and check it out again if you'd like!)

All in all it is a very attractive design with definite commercial application....

Now... Let's change it a little......How about this?

Kinky isn't it?

This is a technique known as "sheltering." In a sheltered design there is usually a layer or layers through which we peek through to see what is underneath....

It is a contemporary......It is a little strange..... It is a bit more visually complex.....You may like it....You may not...... But you don't necessarily have to love it to know how to do it!

It is not for every customer or marketable in every market. But believe it or not, some people actually love that kind of look....In fact, for certain customers it is ideal....And for the customer seeking a different kind of look, your knowing how to do this kind of thing can make a big difference in retaining that customer and keeping his/her respect.......

Sheltering technique is an easy contemporary approach for one to master. And notice how it gives a totally different look to this arrangement.....

Wow...... Notice how you learned a rather neat contemporary technique quickly and easily?

At Rittners Floral School we enjoy sharing these kinds of professional tricks with our students.....

This is the 21st Century......... Part of the fascination of modern approaches to floral art is to learn how to take an arrangement........

And break it down......

.....View it in different ways..........Understanding the component parts...........

Learning to really "SEE" how they interact with each other.............

So that you can produce floral designing that will meet your vision and just as importantly that of your customer*......

*( We believe in art at Rittners, but we are quite practical....Floral art is definitely a commerical art form.....)

Whether your tastes are more classical or more radical....the Rittner Floral School approach to teaching floral art is intended to give you a real understanding of floral media and design approaches............

And most importantly......a very unique perspective and way of understanding floral art......

"If you want to learn floral design..........go to Rittners Floral School!"

At Rittners Floral School in Boston we provide floral design instruction that includes a wide range of different styles and techniques. Folks attend Rittners Floral School, because we are great floral designers, and just as importantly because we are outstanding teachers!! So take a course with us........and send your family and friends to take a course with us too!

Your Webmaster is Dr. Steve Rittner, who may be reached at Stevrt@tiac.net. All photographs and text on this page are Copyright - Rittners School, and may not be reproduced, or used for any commercial purposes.