A lot has happened in floral artist Maurice Harris’s career since we last caught up with him in Flower magazine’s July/August 2015 issue. In 2019, he appeared in the book Blooms: Contemporary Floral Design (Phaidon Press Limited), which showcases the most innovative talents working with flowers today, and he shared his story and art with the world in a commercial for Microsoft’s Surface tablet. Now he’s hosting and executive producing the show Centerpiece on Quibi.
On the show, which premiered in spring 2020, Maurice puts his creativity and fun personality on full display, even enlisting his mom to play the church organ. Each episode begins with a celebrity interview and ends with a fantastical floral portrait that reflects their personality. Viewers can always expect the unexpected. In Episode 2, Maurice and his guest, actress Rashida Jones, break into a choreographed dance at the reveal of her floral portrait (see the clip at the end of this post).
Capture some of Maurice’s floral artistry in your own arrangements with this step-by-step tutorial previously published in Flower.
Floral Tutorial with Maurice Harris
“My inspiration for this design is the color green, which I’m all about right now,” Maurice told Flower in 2015 when he created this lush arrangement for the magazine. “Every morning I wake up to a verdant garden papered on my bedroom walls. It’s energizing. With so many different intensities, green is a naturally rich choice, but it’s often pushed aside in floral arrangements—and I like giving presence to the underdog. To turn my arrangements into leading ladies, I give each one a name. This one is Green Goddess. She’s got a little bit of everything, including some scented herbs, funky texture, and tall branches that give her height. There’s something very chic about sporting different shades of a specific color.”
Materials for “Keen on Green” Arrangement
- Geranium leaves
- Poppies
- Poppy pods
- Thistle
- Safflower buds
- Dog-eye euphorbia
- Artichokes
- Almond branches
- Kangaroo paw
- Berzelia
- Oregano
- Mint
- Manzanita
Step-by-Step Instructions
Click the arrows (or swipe if on a mobile device) for step-by-step photos and instructions
“Layering taller elements on opposite sides of a design gives it movement and makes your eye undulate throughout. Everything should feel balanced and organic. I like my flowers to look very natural, as though they’re doing exactly what they want.” — Maurice Harris
Exclusive Clip from Centerpiece
Watch an exclusive clip from Episode 2 of Maurice Harris’s show Centerpiece featuring guest Rashida Jones. At the reveal of the custom floral installation he creates for Rashida, the two take to the dance floor (choreography by ion point).
Introduction by Terri Robertson | “Keen on Green” tutorial produced by Abby Braswell | Photos by Jessica Sample | Video clip courtesy of Quibi