Submitted by Mame Broody AIFD, CFD
CREATING FLAWLESS FORMS with Steve Rogala was presented by the North East region on Thursday, March 25th. Steps from start to finish, techniques, materials, tips, and much more were discussed in learning just how these special, custom funeral forms are put together.
Steve impressed us right off the bat with a beautiful design of our AIFD NE Region logo! This form of oak leaves was a perfect example for us to see how to handle a jagged edged design. Careful trimming with the scissors works for this as well as straight lines, especially where two colors come together. This careful attention to detail will elevate the quality of your design.
Even though the proportion is more of a suggestion rather than precise, the colors and details of certain logos and designs must be accurate. The discussion came up about copyrights. Steve has never had issues with this due to the occasion for which the pieces are used and that they are not meant to be reproduced.
Steve explained that he puts the poms on the form first and then colorizes them by rotating the piece 90 degrees 4 times and spraying in only one direction. This ensures that all the nooks and crannies are covered. The last bit may need to be tinted before being placed on the form or perhaps neighboring colors protected with plastic or similar. Once the design is finished, he simply harpoons the piece directly onto the easel hook and walks away. His technique of producing lightweight designs makes this possible.
Custom designs discussed and shown were the AIFD North East Region Logo, Soccer Ball, Slot Machine, Piano and Pipe. The last piece was special as it was for Steve’s beloved uncle. He was able to add a cherry scent to the design for the service that brought back fond memories and stories of their loved one. This helped brighten the atmosphere at this solemn occasion which is why these set pieces are so special. Committing to them, executing them to the highest level and the positive feelings they create are some of the reasons why Steve is known for his custom funeral forms.
Even though I have made many of these designs in years past, this was still a valuable learning experience for me. I know that I can always pick up at least one or two tips, but many were discovered here.
My “Take-aways” and Instructor’s Recommendations:
Preferred pom variety is “Polaris” for its flat heads and long life
2 sizes of bank pins
Design Master Foliage Sealer (make sure paint is dry before sealing)
Sheet rock saw to cut Styrofoam, 2” thick, 2’ and 4’ widths
Assemble shape w/ hyacinth stakes & low temp. hot pan glue (dries quickly & will not melt styro)
360-degree painting technique
Reproduce image needed at a copy center size of styro, cut out pattern
To see Steve’s designs online visit: efyflorist.com
A video link of the presentation and a special “How To” document are available for purchase on our website: https://www.aifdnortheast.com/s/shop
All proceeds benefit the art and education efforts of the AIFD North East Region
