Balance Proportion and Scale Floral Design Ms Weigel

Balance, Proportion and Scale Floral Design Ms. Weigel

Overview • Balance and proportion are closely related. • Proportion used to describe size relationships

Balance • Sense of equilibrium • Two Types: 1. Physical Balance 2. Visual Balance

Physical Balance • • Often called mechanical balance The arrangement is sound to stand alone Containers must be proper size and weight Distribute equal amounts of flowers and foliage

Visual Balance • Four types 1. Symmetrical Balance 2. Asymmetrical Balance 3. Radial Balance 4. Open Balance

Symmetrical Balance • Simplest type • Achieved when identical flowers and foliage's are arranged and repeated in the same position on either side of an imaginary central vertical axis

Symmetrical Examples

Asymmetrical Balance • More complex • Placing unequal visual weight on each side of a central vertical axis • “optical” • Based on equal visual weight and eye attraction • Informal Balance • More Natural

Asymmetrical Balance Examples

Radial Balance • All elements radiate or circle out form a common central point • Ex. Spokes on a wheel • Can be combined with symmetrical or asymmetrical balance • Often displayed in bridal bouquets

Open Balance • Common in contemporary designs • Neither prominently symmetric nor asymmetrical • More relaxed and unstructured

Balance Demonstrates the principle of physics Two items of unequal weight can be brought to balance by the heavier object toward the center

Proportion • The relationship of one part of a floral design to others parts as well as the whole • Greeks found that 2 to 3 was a good proportion • The golden rectangle

Proportion

Scale • Another word for size and refers to overall size of an object compared with other objects Flower to container • Small delicate container = petite flower • Heavy vase= massive or showy flowers

Scale Continued Flowers to flowers • Extreme sizes difference are distracting Flowers to foliage • Should be in scale, complementing

Things to consider • Think about the surroundings of the arrangement