Principles of Flower Arrangement: Proportion
Flower arranging has become an art form in itself. The arrangements can be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be. However, most people think that putting some flowers and foliage into a container constitutes an arrangement, leaving what they think is a difficult design to a professional. The truth actually is that anyone can learn how to make some amazing floral arrangements by knowing the basic principles of the art and by practicing them as much as possible.
One the more important principles of floral arranging is Proportion. Very simply put, proportion deals with getting the scale and the overall appearance of the flower arrangement right. It is the correct selection of the elements in the arrangement in terms of size and shape. The proportion of your floral arrangement can be determined in two ways – either through the container you have, or based on the flowers you’re using. Whatever you decide on first, there are certain rules of proportion in arranging the flowers. The amount of flower material you use should be three-fifths of the final design, and the container, two-fifths. For example, if you are using long stemmed roses, it makes sense to use a taller container instead of a low round one to match the flowers. Round containers go well with flowers that are roundish in shape like the daisy and gerbera daisy or denser like the standard mum or carnation.
While creating a floral arrangement, to get the proportion right, make your arrangement slightly taller than you want it, since it is always easier to cut the stems if it’s too tall.
Proportion in a floral arrangement is also visible in the colors used. To have a visually appealing flower arrangement, select colors that will be proportionate to each other i.e. the amount of each color used in the floral arrangement. If you’re using three colors, use more of one color for your central point, less of the second color and only a moderate amount for the last choice of color. When determining the color proportion in any arrangement, you should also try and keep in mind the light and dark shades so that your arrangement is not completely dark or light, but a balanced effect which will suit the setting.
Along with the size and color, proportion in a floral arrangement can also be developed in the textures, such as rough and smooth, or finishes like shiny and dull. This provides some depth and character to the flower arrangement eliminating the monotonous appearance. By breaking the arrangement into different kinds of textures, it makes for a more attractive and eye catching work of art.
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