Basic Design "At Home With Flowers"

UNIT 1   Line Design, part one      class notes, page 2

Any line direction within a design may consist of only the chosen linear material or it can be created through the repetition of shapes, forms, textures and color which have been placed in a specific linear direction.  The design may have a center of interest it it is needed for strength and stability, but the center of interest must not crowd the design, obscure the line or become a bull's eye.

 Using an abundance of plant material at the base of the design will create a collar effect and should be avoided.  Linear, oval , pointed flowers or seed pods will reinforce the main line, but round forms hold attention too long unless they have been graduated in size.

Principles of Design
Balance
Rhythm
Dominance
Contrast
Proportion
Scale

Elements of Design
Line
Color
Light
Texture
Pattern
Form
Size
Space

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Balance in line designs is usually asymmetrical, as varied heights of three branches create a triangle.  This balance reflects what we see in nature, thereby giving opportunity for freedom and originality in floral design.  Density at the top and outer limits of the design can affect balance, therefore extra leaves or flowers should be removed adding clarity and rhythm and contributing to better balance.

A base, such as wood, mirror, marble, etc. may be used to add visual weight.

Shape

Some plant material may be altered to a desired shape by placing it under water and laying a towel on the plant overnight to acquire a desired shape. Scotch broom works well this way.  The direction on many stems, even woody ones, can be changed by careful bending. Rolling a leaf while gently rubbing it, changes its direction. When all else fails, we can resort to wiring a stem, even the underside of a leaf, to form a desired line.

In line designs, two dimensional shapes, particularly those of foliage, give a transition from rounded forms to linear forms. They bridge the gap between bold, round forms and strong, linear forms. As a result, they allow the eye to move in any direction in the design.

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