COLOR
One of the most important factors in the art of flower arrangement is COLOR.
It adds life to the arrangement and it gives each floral piece a personality of its own. Without color, the arrangement lacks that certain quality that attracts one's eyes to it.No matter how closely the principles of this art are followed, how precisely construction details are adhered to, and how perfect the plant material may be, because of the improper use of color, the arrangement can bea dismal failurelure. Color harmony within the arrangement itself and with the area in which it is tobe placed is an important consideration.Just as a new home is incomplete until the final finishing touch of color, the same situation exist in flower arrangements. Harmonies and differences occur in color just as they do in music. In many situationsthey are closely related to the individual's likes and dislikes.A close observation of nature will help one to understand color to some extent.
Before proceeding with the various principles and uses of color, it is the best that the term be defined. What is color? The physicist identifies color according to radiant energy, light, and wavelengths. The colors we see aee reflected light with wavelengths included in the visible spectrum.
The chemist describes color according to pigments, The mixing of these pigments in various amounts along with black and white can be use to make up any desired color. Psychologists study color according to human response and reaction.The response of individuals to certain colorsor combinations of colors are important considerations to the paychologists as well as to the floral designer. Most artists, including floral designers, consider all of the above in their response to color.A detailed study of each is not necessary for one working with flowers, but some background knowledge is helpful.
by taking a red rose into a roomWith light waves of various lengths hit the retina of the eye, they are interpreted by the brain as different colors. The human eye can see only those wavelengths in the visible spectrum which is a small part of the entire light ray. Infrared with wavelengths longer than red, and ultra violet with wavelengths shorter than violet are at eighteen end of this area but are not visible.
Color seen by human eye are reflected light. A blue or a yellow object as one sees it is the result of. the color effecrs produced by light waves reflected from the surface. A blue delphinium is that. particular color because blue wavelengths are reflected, and all those of other dimensions are absorbed by the surface, When the surface absorbs all wavelengths, the resultingeffecr is black,If all are reflected the surface is white.
The source of light as well as its quantity and qualityhas an effect upon the color that one observes.A red rose in sunlight will be seen as brilliant red. Under incandescent light the color will be seen intense. However, if this same flower is placed under fluorescent lights, it will appear bluish and will not have the same. radiance as seen under natural or incandescent sources. An interesting phenomenon can be observed by taking a red rose into a room lighted with fluirescent light.Stand at the end farthest from the window , where the bulk of the light on the rose is from the fluorescent tubes. Walk slowly toward the window where bright sunlight is entering and observe the color changes taking place in the rose . It will gradually change from a dull , bluish red to a brilliant red at the window. Even though the quantity of light (measured in foot candles) remains the same, the quality of it has reflected the changes that occured,
'It is important when selecting flowers to know the type of light in which they will be displayed. If the light intensity (quantity) will be relatively low, bright colors should be used.
Under such conditions, daerker colored flowers tend to fade into the background and sometimes will even appear as empty spaces in the arrangement when observed from some distsnce away. Texture of the plant material is also a factor in color response, Some plant tissues possess a fine, delicate, velvety texture which are color absorbing and do not have the reflecting qualities of tissues with a hard , waxy appearance. Compare te petals of a rose with those of a camellia or tuberous begonia.
The latter two usually provide more the vivid color related to theor smooth texture.
Texture of the foliage used should not be overlooked when plannning arrangements, Some foliagehas no appearance almost like patent leather which will reflect color to the point of overpowering the other parts of the arrangements.Other types of foliage with a soft, delicate appearance are color absorbing and may be difficult to see under sone light conditions,
From the chemist;s point of view, there are 3 primary colors: red -yellow - blue. By mixing these primary pigments in various proportions along with black and white, all colors can be obtained. Mixing 2 primary colors results in a secondary color.
A combination of red and yellow = orange.
Blue + yellow =green
Blue+Red=violet
A secondary color mixed with a primary color produces those colors known as tertiary colors.There are 6 of these:
Red + Orange =red orange
Orange + yellow=yellow orange
Other tertiary colors are: yellow green, blue green, blue violet, and red violet It is with these 12 fundamental colors that the designer must work
White added to the above colors will produce a TINT. The degreee of a tint will depend upon the amount of white added. By adding black color, a SHADE is produced.Grey, a combination of black and white, produces TONES.
Tones can also be achieves by mixing 2 complimentary colors. This greying effort is easily obtained by mixing pigments but is difficult to visualize in flower combinations.
In a discussion of color there are several terms that are often used. The words "color" and "hue" are often used interchangeably. However, color is most often used as a general term encompassing the whole wide range of the subject, including hues, values, and chromas. Hue is more specific and is recognized as. a pure color with no addition of white , grey, or black which would alter its effectiveness or purity. It is that special attribute of a particular color that differentaites it from other colors of the same intensity. Red, red violet, and red orange are all consider as hues.
VAlue is the relative, or degree of, lightness or darkness of a hue. It is the amount of color distinguished between light, medium and dark of that particular hue. Pink is considered a light value of red, burgundy is considered a dark value of red. The addition of white and black affects the value of the color.
Chroma intensity is the brightness or dullness of a hue.
It is often referred to as the purity of a color determined by the degreee of absence of white or grey.
The spectrum colors are those that have maximum intensity.
THe COLOR WHEEL CAN BE USEFUL tool for the floral designers.Although most of the designers have a good fairy understanding of color and color combinations, the color wheel can be used in doubtful situations.
Tge color wheel most often used consists of the 3 primary , 3 secondary, and 6 tertiary colors arranged in a circle.
Some have only primary and secondary colors while others have 18 or more of them.Basically, the color wheel it can. be described as the visible spectrum bent so that both ends meet to form a circle.
The color wheel is used to determine combinations of color which go together or harmonize with each other
One of the easiest to use is the monochromatic color scheme..This consists of the use of a single hue along with tints, tones, and shades of it.An arrangement of rose, pink and red carnations would fit this category. In this situation, the red would be the pure hue, pink the tint, and rose the shade of it.
IN any color combination is necessary to avoid equal amounts of color. This usually causes competition for interest and is a disturbing factor in any arrangement, One color should predominate and others be subservient. IN the above explanation the red is. the dominant color, the pink and rose should add support to it nut not be in a position to overpower it.
Analogous color schemes consist of one primary hue along with those that are adjacent to it.This combination can. involve those hues making up to one-third of the color wheel, nut not more than one primary color can. be involved.Many varieties of annual flowers work together well in this color harmony,Yellow, yellororange, and orange zinnias using a combination of the so called " Cut and Come Again" varietyand the larger flowering types can be effective, Marigolds, calendulas, snapdragons, and arctotis ( african daisy) can be used together to secure analogous color harmony.
Complementary colors are those directly opposite each other on the color Wheel.Red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet are all example of complementary colors.These combination cand be used to create rather sensational effects especially in contemporary arrangements. Full chroma of each hue are rarely used, except for these arrangements. A combination of a lifgt value (tint) of one and a dark vale (shade) of the other usually creates the most interesting effect, Pale blue delphinium and orange marigolds can be used together as an interesting color combination. The used of these 2 values tends to emphasize both, and each color is used to its best advantage. if a different delphinium was used which has a value similar or equal to that of the marigold, the 2 colors would tend to neutralize each other and the overall effect would not be as striking as the first example.
The triad or triadic color harmony consists of 3 colors equidistant on the color wheel. Orange, green, and violet, and red, blue and yellow are examples of this color harmony. When useg these color combinations, shades, tints and tones, should be used rather than full chroma of each. it is also important that unequal amounts of each be used to create proper balance in the arrangement. Pink snapdragons, blue delphiniums, and yellow marguerites combines into a light, airy, spring arrangement is an effective use of the triad combination.
In the above color harmonies, no mention has beed made of white, grey , and black. In most color schemes these along with green, the natural color of most foliage. are considered neutral and can be used for containers or backgrounds. However. if the arrangement is for a flower show, the schedule or show committee should be consulted to be sure their use is not prohibited.
The use of color in floral designs is often referred to as " an arrangement within and arrangement" IN the construction of the overall arrangement, one is concerned with lines, balancem and other factors. For effective use of color, the same factors must be taken into consideration. However, there should be an interrelationship between the construction details and the teduld be limiuse of color.
The design of the arrangement and the use of color must be considered simultaneously and constructed accordingly. Just as teh lines of the arrangement flow toward the focal area, color should move in the same direction, with the heavier colors concentrated there.The focal point of both flower size and color should coincide to ensure unity and to avoid competitionfor attention among the different parts of the arrangement.
Balance can be achieved by careful placement of hues, theoir values, and chroma.The use of full chroma shold be limited to a small area, and unequal values of the same or different hues should be used throughout the arragement.than their darker counter
If the full chroma is used in different areas, a spotty appearance results, creating competition for dominance in these areas. Light values are used at the extremities and those of darker value used toward the base. Darker values appear heavier than their lighter counterparts and when concentrated towards the base will lend weight to this area and will help support the rest of the arrangement.
Shades, tints, and tones of the various hues in the arrangement can be used effectively to create the principle of RHYTHM.
Starting with tints at the extremities, followed by tones and shades toward the focal area where the full chroma can be used, movement can be easily obtained. Because shades appear heavier than tones and tones heavier than tints, movement in the arrangement can be controlled by their use.
There should be no sharp dividing line between colors, Instead they should flow together and create the feeling of oneness rather than the effect that each is going its own separate way. This can be accomplished by a gradual intermingling of the colors at the point of junction and flowing toward the single hues in each direction. It should be remembered that when 2 or more hues are used, only one should predominate, and the other should be secondary to it.
Darker colors appear heavier than lighter ones and are usually used in a low position.However, because of their size, there are occasions when lighter colored flowers appear heavier than their darker counterparts and will be used in the lower areas. A guideline to follow is: if 2 flowers are equal in size, the darker color appear heavier and should be used low in the arrangement. If the darker flowers are smaller and appear lighter in weight than the light color ones, they should be used toward the extremities of the arrangement.
For good balancein an arrangement of red and white carnations. for example, the redwould be placed low and toward the center and the white would predominate at the extremities. A combination of blue salvia and white carnations would have darker color salvia outward with the white concentrated at the base. This situation exists because of the size relationship between the 2 flowers. In both of these examples, it should not be interpreted that only one color is at the base but rather that a predominance of thsat color is there and color values lessen as they move away from the focal area.
Background colors are important considerations when an arrangement is put in place. To be more effective, arrangements of light colored flowers should have darker backgrounds, and those with dark flowers are more pronounced when light backgrounds are used. If the background color is similar to that of the arrangement, background and arrangement will tend to blend together to such an extent that it may be difficult to distinguish the outline of the arrangement. Too sharp a contrast may also cause difficulty by exaggerating lines of materials at the perimeter at the expense of those within. For flower shows, neutral backgrounds are best; black white , or grey are all good.Pastells are usually satisfactory, brightly color backgrounds will overpower some arrangements and should be avoided if possible.
Although the chemical and physical reactions are quite fixed and rigid, the psychological response to color is often more flexible and variable. Colors do have an effect upon human reaction and response , but these vary considerably among individuals and under different conditions. Some colors have the effect of creating a feeling of warmth; others, coolness; some cheerful and others depressing. There is a group of flowers that give the feelong of coming forward; these are called "advancing colors" while others tend to move away and are known as"receding colors". Each of these factors should be keptin mind when making floral arrangements.
Warm colors are those. involving red, orange and yellow. If red is placed at the top of the color wheel, those colors between the 11 of 5 o'clock positions going clockwise are known as warm colors. These include red violet, red, etc, through yellow green. This group of colors has a warming effect upon most individuals.The degree of warmth is greatest at the red position and gradually decreased as one moves farther away from it. Those colors proceeding through green, blue, and violet are known as colors with blue having the greatest degree of coolness.
This effect can have an influencer upon the type and color of flowers used at different times of the year.On a hot summer day, red flowers conveying the impression of warmth would tend to make the atmosphere feel hotter; whereas blue flowers would have a cooling effect upon those o\present and provide for a more comfortable condition. The reverse of this would be appropriate for a cold, snowy day. Red, conveying the feeling of warmth, would help to counteract the coolness associated with the blustery, wintery conditions. Blue flowers would only add to the unpleasant conditions outdoors and have an additional cooling effect whiten the room. The greater the chroma of the hue, the more intense will be the feeling of warmness or coolness of it.
Tints have a cheerful effect upon most individuals. Pastels fit into this category and create the feeling of well being or happiness. Many of the. flowers used by designers are tints; few have full chroma or the degreee of intensity that can be obtained from pigments, some flowers have colors which are considered as tones; fewer would be shades od a color.
Tones are known as. quieting, shades are depressing. Care must be taken when selecting these values because of the reaction of individuals to them under certain conditions. When used together with tints and hues of full intensity in a monochromatic arrangementm they can be quite effective in brightening the general athmosphere.
Shades and tones make good backgrounds for flower arrangements. Because of their subdued nature, arramgements of flowers of othert hues can be more effectively displayed against shades or tones.
The psychological effect of some color protruding forward and others moving backward can be used to some degree in floral design. The theory of advancing or moving forward and that darker colors are receding or moving away. A room with bright colores walls appears smaller than the one of similar dimensions with the darker hues. The visual dimentions of a long, narrow room can be changed by having the wall at one end of a different color from the others.
In floral arranging, the theory of advancing and receding colors can be used to obtain deepth. By placingg darker colors deep within the arrangement and the brighter color forward, a feeling of greater depth can be obtain. It is necessary that placement and lighting be considered when using these hues.From distances or under conditions of low light intensity, darker hues may appear as open spaces or voids in the arrangement. if darker colors are forward and the bright hues placed within, depth will appear to be completely lacking or at best, less than the real death in the arrangement. Under most conditions, this situation should be avoided.
The choice of color reflects the personality of the designer and should reflect that of the one receiving the flowers. Some designers tend to use brightr colors in. most if their designs, these may not be appropriate for a subdued or quiet individual or for some situations. Bright colors or those of full chroma can be depressing for one who is seriously ill but can be cheerful and stimulating for a patient well on the way to recovery.
The designer's choice of color can be as important as the choice of flowers. Oftentimes, a relatively poor arrangement catches the eye of admirers strictly because of the way the color have been combined or manipulated. Color is often misleading and often can cover errors that could downgrade the arrangement. it can also work the other way by detracting from arrangement that are well done with regard to construction details but lack the well balanced or correct combinations of hues.
The time that the designer can devote to color scheme is unfortunately limited; also , color scheme are defined by the availabilities of the flowers. It is important that the designer have enough knowledge of color use so he can doagnose and interpret color combinations quickly and arrive at harmonious groupings with the floral material available.
Thats what we are trying to follow at 6 Star Florist and Gifts. Corina and the feedbacks from pur clients say it all.
Thank you again for trusting us and believe in our long term goal.
Corina
