Lesson 1 - Bouquet in Monochromatic Colors - Color Theory Tint, Tone and Shade
Event Floral Design Apprentice Program
What is Floral Design?
According to the garden club of Virginia "Flower Arranging is the art of organizing the design elements of plant material and other components according to artistic principles to achieve beauty, harmony, distinction, and expression. The terms flower arrangement, design or composition are synonymous. (https://www.gcvirginia.org/)
Principles and Elements of Floral Design
Floral Design is divided into Principles and Elements. We will be exploring both of these concepts throughout the course. For the sake of overview here is a list with a quick description of each.
Principles of Floral Design
BALANCE
Visual stability achieved by placing equal visual or actual weight on opposite sides of an imaginary central axis.
Symmetrical Balance
Achieved by placing equal amounts of similar materials on either side of a central axis.
Asymmetrical Balance
Balance without symmetry achieved by placing approximate equal visual weight of different elements on each side of a central axis.
DOMINANCE
Control of a design by one or more of the elements. It implies the presence of primary and subordinate elements within the design.
CONTRAST
The use of opposite or unlike elements to emphasize differences and add interest.
RYTHYM
A dominant visual path through a design. It is achieved by the use of gradation and repetition in a linear direction.
PROPORTION
The relationship of one area of a floral design to other areas of the design and to the design as a whole.
SCALE
The size relationship of the individual component parts of a design to one another and the size relationship of the arrangement to the surrounding area.
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE FOLLOWING "PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN" AND "ELEMENTS OF DESIGN" QUICK REFERENCE SHEETS FOR USE WHEN CRITIQUING YOUR DESIGNS EACH WEEK.
Elements of Floral Design
The visual qualities used in creating a design and are common to all art forms.
Light
Illumination (natural or artificial) is necessary for vision. It affects color, shadows, and the visibility of a design.
Space
The open area in and around the arrangement. It includes the space in which the design is placed.
Line
A visual path that leads the eye through the design and establishes the structural framework of the design. It carries the rhythm through the design.
Form
The contour of two-and three-dimensional material. It applies to individual components within the design as well as the contour of the design as a whole.
Size
The visual dimension of line, shape, form and space.
Pattern
The visual quality created by a combination of lines, forms, colors, textures and spaces in the design.
Texture
The visual surface quality of the components, e.g. rough vs. smooth, dull vs. shiny.
Color
The visual response of the eye to light waves. There is a corresponding relationship between the principles of design and color.
COLOR THEORY
A basic understanding of color theory is foundational to floral design. Understanding color provides a designer with endless possibilities for creating palettes that are harmonious, dimensionaI and interesting to name just a few.
In this first lesson we will learn primary, secondary and tertiary colors as well as hue, tint, tone and shades of colors. We will also discuss the monochromatic color scheme and create a bouquet using tints, tones and shades on one color (hue).
Primary Colors
Red, Blue and Yellow are considered primary colors and are the colors that are used to create all of the other colors we know. These are foundational colors in that they cannot be created by mixing other colors.
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Secondary Colors
Orange, Violet and Green are the colors that happen when the primary colors are mixed with the color next to them on the color wheel.
Tertiary (means third level) Colors
Red-Orange, Red-Violet, Blue-Violet, Blue-Green, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green are the colors you get when you mix a primary color and a secondary color that are next to each other on the color wheel.
Hue
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary colors
There are 12 hues - RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, VIOLET, RED-VIOLT, RED-ORANGE, YELLOW-ORANGE, YELLOW-GREEN, BLUE-GREEN, BLUE-VIOLET
The primary hues of RED, YELLOW, BLUE are the only colors that cannot be created by mixing.
Black and White
So what is BLACK and WHITE? Black is the absence of color and White comprises all color. Neither black or white are considered colors. Black and White are what we use to create value in our colors.
Value
the lightness or darkness of a color or more simply how close that color is to white or black.
Tint - Tone - Shade
TINT is when we add WHITE to a color giving it a higher VALUE.
TONE is when we add GREY (black and white mixed) to a color giving it a lower VALUE.
SHADE is when we add BLACK to a color giving it a lower VALUE.
PRACTICE
Now that you have watched the video it is time to practice. You will need flowers a variety of flowers for this bouquet.
You will choose flowers in tints, tones and shades of a primary color. You can choose Yellow, Red or Blue for your Hue.
We will be using recipe counts that are based off of the way I identify flowers. In the following graphics I explain what I mean by the terms used in the recipe. You are free to use any flowers that seem to fit into the category based on the graphics. I would like you to show each flower type you chose and tell me the category it is in before starting your practice. You can take a picture each week and fill out the sheet at the end of this lesson.
RECIPE
13 spacing flowers or greens
8 textural or filler flowers
8 medium flowers
5 medium flowers
3 medium flowers
5 lateral flowers
5 small round flowers
3 small round flowers
5 dancing or gestural flowers
3 dancing or gestural flowers
3 draping flowers
0 large round flowers
Video and Self-Evaluation
Don't forget to video your entire process. I want you to observe and critique yourself based on the principles of floral design. Download the principles of design and keep for each week of your video observations. This is ONLY for your personal use so no need to be nervous.
Photograph Your Bouquet
After you are done the bouquet you will take a picture from all angles of you holding it and evaluate it based on the principles of design.
Helpful link for a 2020 buying guide for cut flowers https://thefloristguide.com/different-types-of-flowers-buying-guide/
For a full library of cut flowers along with their seasonal availability go to https://www.mayesh.com/flower-library
