FLOWER ARRANGEMENT There is nothing so beautiful, attractive, elegant and colourfull as fresh flowers. They are loved and admired by all .flowers add glamour and charm to interior decoration .the knowledge and skill of artistic flower arrangement is a valuable tool for decorating rooms tastefully. Flower arrangement may be defined as an art of organizing flowers, other plants materials and a receptacle into composition having harmony of form colour and texture. Its purpose is to add cheer, life and beauty to surroundings.

A flower arrangement should have a personality of its own and express one single idea.

ELEMENTS OFART IN FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS:

LINE AND FORM: The basic lines and forms of flower arrangement are circle, rectangle, triangle, and semi circle, cone, s (Hogarth) line, oval, perpendicular, crescent, diagonal, etc. the shape depends on the pre-dominant line of the materials used. The finished arrangements should appear as one unit .the lines of a flower arrangement can be compared to the lines of a leafless tree. The container may be considered as the tree trunk. The branches may become smaller at the end and likewise flowers used must be smaller and far apart at the extremities. Different forms of flowers and foliage-large, round, long , medium sized, slender , small, tiny clusters are used in a flower arrangements .harmony of shapes and size is an important condition in that case.TEXTURE:

Unity in texture is necessary between the flowers and plant material and also between these two and their containers .they may be classified as delicate, coarse, velvety etc.

COLOUR: The plant material and containers constitute the colour problem in a flower arrangement. A dominant colour is necessary is arrangement for emphasis and unity. If more colour are used one should be more (first) in quality and the second in lesser amount and the third is the smallest amount. Any of the colour schemes can be tried in a flower arrangement. Values of colours are equally important. Light colours are used at the upper portions and outer margins while darker colours are ear to the bottoms and center.PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN IN FLOWER ARRANGEMENT:

Design is a form or shape of compositions, the thought out plan upon which it is built. It should depend upon the room and different object in it; the windows,, the walls , the chairs, the tables and other accessories in it such as table lamp , picture frame etc.UNITY: The first principle of design is unity. The arrangement as a whole must be a unit. Each part or element in it must be so related to every other part that the result is ownees. Unity is defined as the oneness of the composition as a whole that all its component parts blend in such a way as to present to the observer, a single picture. It is a soul and life of any arrangement.

SCALE:

Scale is the size relationship of various component part used in an arrangement- the material used in constructing it, the container, flowers foliage, accessories- must possess a suitable relationship to each other in size.

ACCENT OR EMPHASIS:

A point of the composition which catches the eye & hold the interest is known as the centre of interest or focal point, where the flowers are largest ,most numerous and brilliant in colours. For the sake of stability, the focal point wrest be near the lower part and near the centre. All the lines converge at this point. A line may be emphasized. Flowers must be emphasized by sub-iodinating contains and foliage.BALANCE:

An arrangement that appear s stable as balance. In an arrangement equilibilium is a matter of visual balance rather than the actual physical weights of the materials used. To accomplish this materials used in the arrangement must be so disturbed that they appear to be the same amount of weight on each side of the central axis. For the sake of balance the heaviest mass of plant material, the largest flowers and the largest stems should usually be close to the imaginary line in the centre. In symmetrical balance, the plant material on one side of the centre of the container is approximately equal to the material on the other side and similarly arranged. In asymmetric or in formal balance the plant materials on the both side of the centre are not similarly arranged. The power attraction depends not only on quality but also the side of the flower, colour, value etcRHYTHM:

Rhythm in a composition of any kind is that quality which gives a sense of motions a feeling created by the actual movement of the eye crescent.

HARMONY:

Harmony in arrangement can be achieved by selecting and arranging the flowers, accessories and other plant materials in a vase in order to give a family resemblance. It is especially important in respect to the colours used, but also regards forms and textures. Harmony refers to the absence of a jamming note in the relationship of the several elements that go to wake up the compositions.PRPPORTION:

The fine relationship of part in an arrangement is based on proportions. A safe rule is to have a plant material about @ 1 1\2 times as high as medium or tall container although it can be higher than that to fit the background @ placement. A tall arrangement must be narrow and tapering at the end. A horizontal arrangement looks well if the plant material is one and half times as wide as the low contains. Flat arrangement to be seen from above may have one-third or two-third of water covered.COLOUR:

To make certain that the arrangement will be really pleasing; the colour should be used in the proper relationship to each other. Different types of colours harmonies such as monochromatic, analogous direct complementary etc can be used in order to make arrangement more beautiful.

TYPES OF FLOWER ARRANGEMENTTRIANGULAR SYMMETRICAL ARRANGEMENT: This is the basis for any design it is made up of a full, tall, stem line with equally spaced flowers or foliage and both sides .in this arrangements we get a triangular shape equivalent to equilateral triangle.

The main stem will be the tallest of all other flowers and foliages. It is placed perpendicular is at 90*degree to a horizontal vase. The height of the main stem is one and a half to two times the width of the horizontal vase. Next two stems of equal height, whose height is less than or 3\4 of the main stem. They are placed on either side of the main stem, equal distant from the main stem at 45 degree angle. This gives the frame work of the arrangement. Then fill in the space between the main (first) and the second stem with foliage or flower. Place flowers with high value at the bottom. The centre of interest should be at the bottom of the vase. Contrasting colour harmony will suit this type of arrangement. This arrangement can be placed in the living room or prayer room or bed room, but not on a dining table, since it may hide the persons face sitting opposite to you. TRIANGULAR- A SYMMETRICAL ARRANGEMENTS This is one of the easiest of the arrangements, all the three stems or foliage which form the three bone lines are not equal in size. One side may be heavier than the other. The focal point is at the base. A flat tray or dish is often used for this arrangement. They all of two types.

They are:1. Right angled triangle arrangement.

2. Left angled triangle arrangement.

RIGHT ANGLED ARRANGEMENTS:

In this arrangement the right side is heavier than the left side. The main stem one and a half times the width of the vase, is placed perpendicular to the vase. The second stem, shorter than the first is taken and placed on the right side of the first stem. The third stem, shorter than the second stem is placed on the left side of the first stem. The second and the third are equaled distant from the centre. This forms the frame work. Then the spaces are filled with foliages or flowers. The focal point is at the base. The arrangements look like a right angled triangle.

They can be used in kitchen, living room, bed room and prayer room.

LEFT ANGLED ARRANGEMENT: In this arrangement the left side is heavier than the right side. It is similar to the right angled arrangement but the second stem should be place in the left and the third stem on the right. The focal point is at the base. This looks like a left angled triangle. This can be used in all rooms except on dining table. VERTICAL ARRANGEMENT Vertical or perpendicular arrangements are ideal for slender vases. The main stem should be one and a half to two times the height of the container. The main stem is the highest. then other foli8age is placed along the main stem in order to strength the vertical line since the foliage and flowers are placed perpendicular to the vase it is also called perpendicular arrangement. The flowers are placed at the base and above. The lighter colour are placed above and heavier flower below depending upon their value they are arranged.

Both pedestals and horizontal vases can be used. For pedestal, the main stems height is one and a half to two times the height or length of the vase. For horizontal as flat vase it is one and a half to two times the width of the vase. This arrangement can be used in living rooms and is ideal for spaces. HORIZONTAL ARRANGEMENT This arrangement is a composition in which the element of line is of first importance. Only a relatively small amount of plant material is used in order that the beauty characterizes the lives of plant growth are shown clearly.

Horizontal are flat vases are used for this type of arrangement requires slender stems. Two stems of same length and also which is one and a half times the width of the vase is taken. They are placed on either side of the centre at 180* angle it, parallel to the vase. Then other this stems, small beautiful flowers are used along the main stem so as to strength en the horizontal lines. In the middle flowers are placed, which will be the centre of interest in that arrangement.

This arrangement is best suited for dining tables as they are low and will not hide any faces sitting opposite to the other. Everyone can look at it from any direction as there is no front and back for the arrangement. The focal point is at the centre of the vase. OVAL ARRANGEMENT Oval is a beautiful arrangement which is suited for the type of vase. It is slightly similar to circular arrangement. Two long twigs, one and a half times the width of the vase is taken and placed on the either side of the centre of the vase. They are equidistant from the centre. The end of the foliage or twigs meet at the top, at the centre is, just straight to the centre of the vase, so as to form an oval shape. This gives the outline of the arrangement. Then small, slender, thin foliages are used as the filling material. Small flowers also can be used. The height of the filling material should not exceed the outlines of the arrangement i.e., the foliages should be filled in a such way that they are within the oval shape. Then flowers are placed at the base of the foliage. The focal point of the arrangement is at the base. Two or three flowers may be slightly higher than the base. The edge of the oval is light and airy.

Flat vases, cups, small bowls, dishes are suitable for this type of arrangement. They can be placed anywhere in the house. This arrangement can be used to break the masculinity, if present in the house. This also gives tender cook, soft and fragile.

FAN ARRANGEMENT

Fan arrangement needs curved foliage which will be able to hang from the vase. Pedestals vase or any containers that has height can be used for this arrangement.

For this type of arrangement, the focal point is at the centre of the containers. The slender foliage is placed on all sides of the containers so that they hang from the containers. This gives the fan arrangement. The flowers are placed at the centre and the focal point is at the centre. DIAGONAL ARRANGEMENT Diagonal arrangement is a type of line arrangement where the diagonal line is give importance.

In this arrangement there are two main stems. The first stem is one and a half times the length of the vase. it is placed in a slanting way. The second stem is slightly shorter than the first stem. It is placed in the opposite directions to the first stem. The second stem is exactly opposite to the first so as to form a diagonal line. This line is then strengthened by other foliages. Even tiny flowers can be used to strengthen the line. The heavier flowers are placed at the centre of the container. The focal point lies at the centre.

For diagonal arrangement, the diagonal line should be distinctly shown and should be very prominent. Only vertical or pedestals vases can be used. HOGARTH CURVE S BEND Hogarth arrangement is similar to that of a diagonal arrangement. The only modification is the two main stems are bend slightly at the edge. This focus the S shape, hence called as S bend. This was discovered by Hogarth, hence also gets the name as Hogarth curve.

The focal point is at the centre. Since the edge bends, it gives a feminine effect and blends will width the curvature in the house. This can be placed on any room except on the dining table. Only pedestals or vertical d vase, long containers which can hold water etc., can be used. CRESCENT ARRANGEMENT Crescent arrangement is an elegant arrangement to be placed in a living room. Crescent arrangement requires two main curved stem. The first stem is one and a half times to two times the width of the vase. It is fixed in a curved way is in c shape. The stem (second stem) is shorter than the first stem which forms or completes the c shape. This form the bone structure. Flowers are used all over the arrangement, which strengths the curved line. If focal point is desired then foliage is used for strenghting the curved (c) line and flowers are placed at the center. This arrangement requires only flat vases, small bowls, dishes etc., if the arrangement is small it can even be used on a dining table. Otherwise except dining table, the arrangement can be used in every other room.

MASS- ARRANGEMENT Mass arrangement is very easy to make. Any type of container, whether it could be a pedestals or a low container, can be used for this arrangement. The specialty of this arrangement is that it can be seen from any angle. On all sides it can be seen from any angle... on all sides it can be seen. There is no front side or back side for this arrangement.

Take a container place flowers on all sides in a attractive, colorful and cheerful manner. Then fill in the foliages that will suit the flowers in a such way, that the foliage should not hide the flowers. Contrasting colures can be used for an excellent effect. This can be placed in living room to make it more cheerful. It is suited for all rooms even on dining tables this arrangement can be placed if made on a low or medium vase. This is the most often made and preferred arrangement. A comparatively large amount of plants materials are used. Colour is most important than line is in this arrangement. This arrangement may either be compact5 or airy. JAPANESE ARRANGEMENT The Japanese flower arrangement is based on certain principles of art which are recognized all over the world. The Japanese seldom make any arrangement of flowers without of their own natural foliage. Most arrangements consists of a full branches from a tree or bush as well as small grass flowers which must naturally grow at the base of a tree. The flowers best liked are those growing naturally in the garden or country side at the time of arrangement. Fully grown flowers or foliages are seldom used. Light buds are preferred. The branches of trees producing large leaves or bushes with abundance of leaf or not used except while the leaves are in buds. The reason for this practice is

(1) The Japanese consider odd number as beautiful.

(2) When the buds are used the observes have pleasure is seeing them bloom.

In Japanese arrangement, they use three long stems and flowers accordingly. The first stem is 1 1/2 times the width of the vase and is placed at 90*. This represents the heaven and is called shine. The second stem is th of the first and is placed at 45* angle from the first either right or left. This represents even and is called soe. The third is th of the second on is fixed at 10 degree angle from the first stem , just opposite to the other ( second stem ) is , if the second is in right then place the third in the left , or vice versa. Cut flowers depending on the height of the three stem and fix them accordingly so that the head of the flower just touches the base of the foliages top most leaf. The third stem represents earth and is called hikae shines, soe and hikae represent heaver, even and earth. They have meaning to each and every flower they fix.

Flat vases are best for this arrangement since buds are used they can be kept for two to three days by periodical change of water. They are simple best attractive they give elegant look to the room where they are placed.

CIRCULAR ARRANGEMENT

Circular arrangement gives circle shape to the arrangement. This type of arrangement requires curved foliage. Two curved foliage of a same size is takes and placed on either side of the center the vase in such a way that the tip of the foliage meet at the top in order to form a circle. This forms the bone line for the arrangement. Then other small foliages are filled in. the focal point is at the base.

This type of arrangement is very graceful to look at and can be placed is all rooms. It gives a graces full blend to the room. This arrangement should be colour to make the look more attractive. Circular bowl are a low containers is ideal for this arrangement.