Lesson 4 - Add a Cascade and Final Color Theory Lesson
Final lesson on Color Theory
In this section we will explore several more ways or schemes for combining colors and then add a cascade to our final bouquet tutorial.
Triadic Color Scheme
The triadic color scheme uses three colors that are equally spaced around the color wheel. Again, I suggest that a one color is used as the primary color while the other two in a lesser quantity. We will be getting into the ratio of product and color in our next lesson but for now let's just say large, medium and small is a great rule for amounts of color when using three.
I am not a big fan of using the triadic color scheme with the primary hues or pure values. I suggest to add white, grey or black (tints, tones and shades) of the colors in this scheme as well as managing amounts in the large, medium, small quantity.
In this bouquet there are tints of orange and purple with deep green foliage. Technically, there is a soft yellow here too so this would not be a triadic in its purest form. We could say that there is a double triadic scheme here the second being with soft yellow, light blue and pink (light red).
Possibly a more purely triadic color scheme bouquet would be this one. Using shades of violet and tints and tones of orange as well as the blue green foliage.
The Tetradic Color Scheme
2 pairs of complementary colors that form either a square or a rectangle.
In this bouquet red and green as well as yellow and violet are combined to create this beautiful bouquet.
I have tried to keep this study of color simple because color theory can be studied life long. These are basic principles and starting points for building color palettes for your clients and your own designs. One of the best tools for creating palettes now that you understand these basic principles is found here. I suggest you add this link to your tool bar and make use of it often. The options are endless and as you gravitate to different palettes, hues, tones, tints and shades I expect you to begin to discern what colors tend to define the body of your work. This is not to limit your options but rather to begin to create a signature in your style and brand.
The next video is a quick review of the adobe color wheel site tool. Enjoy!
Now that you have watched the video it is time to practice. You will need flowers. You will choose flowers in tints, tones, shades or saturations (chroma) of triadic colors. You can choose any three triadic colors and its tints, tones, shades, saturations and values. I would suggest you choose one of the colors as a primary and use 60 percent of that color and 30 percent of the second and 10 percent of the third.
Note each flower type you chose and write 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.
Don't forget to video your entire process.
I want you to observe yourself. This is ONLY for your personal use so no need to be nervous.
Take a Photo
After you are done the bouquet you will take a picture from all angles of you holding it and then evaluate it based on the elements and principles of floral design.
