Cultivated by Christin Geall

Cultivated by Christin Geall

Author:Christin Geall [Geall, Christin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Published: 2020-03-14T16:00:00+00:00


lesson

Threes, Fives, and Sevens

A dictum of contemporary garden design and, to some extent, floral design is to work in odd numbers—threes, fives, sevens, and so on. Odd numbers suggest the spontaneity of nature, which rarely presents itself in matching sets. Place two poppies on either side of an arrangement, and it grows eyes because our brains are hardwired for facial recognition. Add a third or fifth poppy off-center, and you subvert the brain’s need to form patterns.

If viewers can’t easily find a pattern in your work—pairs of plants or flowers—their eyes move around a design and experience more of it.

Dynamism is preferred over static, regimented displays (depending on the setting, of course—not in a formal garden or period-style arrangement).

So, to count stems or not? I don’t count flowers as I work because I don’t have to—often, I just pick what I need from the garden. But scarcity is real for me, too. I’ll use two matching flowers if they’ll do, four if I have them, and ten if they are called for. And yes, even one of a very special kind.

Flowers vary in size, quality, and shape, whether purchased or grown. You’ll find a solid grounding in techniques and aesthetics offers the best foundation for artful design, and, like a well-trained chef cooking without a recipe, you’ll be better prepared to improvise. Think about the numbers game like you might measure your weight or shape: there are no easy formulas for what makes someone or something beautiful.

That said, if you aren’t sure why an arrangement isn’t working, count your blooms. Ask yourself: Is the piece too balanced, too static? Then add or subtract.



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.