Meet Dana Flanik

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Flanik.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Growing up I always knew I was good at art. It was one if the only thing that I loved besides sports. When I went to college, I was busy listening to everyone telling me what I should be and what would be the most beneficial degree yet I was lost and felt like anything art related would never make me any money.

As a child, my parents took us camping a lot, and my dad did landscaping for a living, so I grew a love for being outside. I never really had a green thumb but always enjoyed landscapes and wildflowers and being in nature.

As time went on, I continued to search for careers that continuously gave me no enjoyment and had little to no creative outlet for me. Jump to a little over four years ago, a good friend was getting married, and she didn’t want to spend the money on flowers, so I strongly suggested she let me. I worked at Trader Joe’s at the time, so new a lot of the names of flowers and could place an order through them and I made her wedding flowers! I knew almost instantly I was in love. It was like love at first site. It all came to me that this was everything I loved wrapped up in one career. Shortly after, I did my mom’s wedding, and everyone was loving what I was creating. It was so satisfying and so fun to be able to create again for what was one of the most important days in a couples life. I continued to post photos of my work and started with any referrals that came my way. I did quite a few flower crowns as well because there weren’t many florists in the area offering them. I loved the flower crowns and believe it is what really gave my name a jump start.

Please tell us about your art.
I am Floral Designer for weddings, events, photo shoots, funerals. Pretty much anything flower related you name it I am down to create it. I work out of my home and have a little workshop that I find so much joy creating in.

I would say I am most passionate about wedding florals. Creating flowers for couples getting married is one of the most rewarding experiences I am so honored to take part in. Not only do I enjoy working to create their dream wedding, but I find so much joy in following their journeys. It’s so fun to hear how people meet and watch there love blossom into a marriage and then see them create families and grow.

I love to think outside the box, to do things that you may have not seen before. I love playing with color palettes and high textural pieces to creating flowers unique to them self. I find inspiration through other art, interior design, textiles, photography, landscapes and so much more. When creating bouquets, like most art, no two pieces will ever be the same, and I think that’s something I love about creating. Flowers come in all shapes and sizes and designers that create each has their own techniques, so we all create in our own unique way! I am self-taught. I am very visual, so I have continued to enjoy watching other florist techniques and style that I am drawn to, to create my own.

A message I would love people to take away from my art is that if you are passionate about something or you can feel the pull that this is what you should be doing, go do it! Don’t worry about what other people think, try and not compare yourself to established businesses, just do it and be passionate about it and the people that love you will support you and refer you and share your amazingness. And in the end, you will be amazed by where you started and so proud of where you have come and so excited at what is ahead!

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I don’t think the role has changed for artists. I think the world is always facing new challenges; it is our job to find the good in this life and to learn and grow from these issues. As artists, we have the power to be seen and heard. We need to spread more love and more joy through our art cause that’s what this world needs.

Since I had started my journey as a florist in 2015, I do not feel like any world events have directly affected my art. To be quite honest, I try to not focus on too much of the negative events going on. I want to spread love and happiness, and I wish all the world could be in peace. I am grateful I am so lucky to live the life I do. I wish I could take all the problems of the world away. All I can do is spread love through my art, teach my children right and do my part as a citizen.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Most of my work is on instagram, @thefloraltheory. Along with facebook and my website thefloraltheoryaz.com

Contact Info:

• Website: thefloraltheory@gmail.com
• Phone: 4802781309
• Email: thefloraltheory@gmail.com
• Instagram: thefloraltheory
• Facebook: The Floral Theory

Image Credit:
Emerald AZ Photography
Rachel Brady photograpghy
Adrian Washburn Photograpghy

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