Balance, Proportion, and Scale

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Balance, Proportion, and Scale
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education
Curriculum Office June 2002
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Balance

• Quality that gives a sense of equilibrium
• Both physical and visual balance are important in
  floral design

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Physical Balance

• Also called mechanical balance
• Floral arrangements should be stable and
  self-supporting
• Physical balance is achieved by distributing
  flowers equally in an appropriate sized container

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Visual Balance

• Arrangements can have physical balance without
  having visual balance
• Types
• Symmetrical arrangement is identical on either
  side of an axis
• Asymmetrical unequal visual weight on each side
  of an axis
• Radial elements in the design radiate from a
  common central point
• Open neither symmetrical or asymmetrical but
  has a perceived sense of balance

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Proportion

• Relationship of one part of a design to the other
  parts as well as the entire design

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Greek Rules of Proportion

• Golden rectangle a rectangle that has sides
  with a ratio of 23 is proportional
• Golden section ratio of a smaller section to a
  larger section is the same as the ratio of the
  smaller section to the whole
• Golden mean dividing an object somewhere
  between one-half to one-third is more pleasing
  than dividing it exactly in half

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Scale

• Overall size of an object compared with other
  objects

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Flower to Container Scale

• Small, delicate containers generally use small,
  delicate flowers
• Large vases look good with large, showy flowers

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Flower to Flower Scale

• Flowers in a design should be in the same scale
  throughout
• Too much difference in flower size can be
  distracting

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Flower to Foliage Scale

• Foliage in a design should mirror the scale of
  flowers

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Arrangement to Surroundings Scale

• Arrangement should both physically and visually
  fit on the table
• The size of an arrangement should also fit in the
  space available to it