A-B-C of flower art

ABC explains many terms from floral art.

Part of this text is published in the bloemschikwoordenboek (designers dictionary). Copyright Aad van Uffelen

List of terms

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P

- R - S - T - V - W - Z

A

abstract arrangement often the elements are not natural and restricted to basic forms, sometimes with strong colors and combined with not-natural materials; we see arrangements with straight lines, with a sharp corner; also geometrical forms; there is also a direction with abstract organic forms.

accessories are used in flower arrangements as decoration such as ribbons, candles, plastic; is not essential for a flower arrangement, but is often important for the final result.

advent arrangement each simple Christmas time arrangement with four purple or white candles and green leaf, moss or conifer branches, and made for the advent period; those days we see also alternative, often more colorful and more decorative advent arrangements.

advent is the four weeks period before Christmas, it is the beginning of the Christian year.

advent wreath simple wreath made only of conifer green, four white or purple candles and purple ribbon; each Advent Sunday one candle more will burn; on Christmas day the purple ribbon will change for white.

ajour an open form, with many spaces, often regular shape in a surface; there exists a form and a rest form; essential is the open space between the materials we use. We see this for example in a mille fleur style arrangement.

ajour wreath wreath shape in ajour form, the materials, flowers and so on are put together in an open pattern; we can do this as well in a symmetrical classic (regular) pattern as in a asymmetrical (irregular) pattern.

analogous colors related colors, close together in the color wheel, such as orange, yellow-orange, yellow and yellow-green.

architecture the art of making buildings, each culture period is known by its own specific architecture, such as gothic, baroque, modern and so on; flower arrangements have to connect on the architecture to be in harmony.

Art Deco art styles 1910-1940 coming after and from Jugendstil (Art Nuveau); it has 2 directions, a functional and a decorative; characteristics are the simple and straight decorative geometric form look like Jugendstil decoration; Art Deco was in design influenced by Cubism and in the use of color by impressionism; motives like flower baskets, bouquets, the sun and so on.

assemblage connecting of different materials till a mostly three dimensional form, a sculpture or a reliëf; often made of dried materials, since ca. 1920 as art form.

asymmetrical not symmetric, the parts of a asymmetric arrangement are not equal to each other; thus unequal, it can give an interesting composition.

attribute decorative material in an arrangement; attribute with a special meaning, the hart form in a Valentine arrangement; a candle in a Advent arrangement; attributes can belong to the essentials of an arrangement (object arrangement, fantasy arrangement or gift arrangement), or give this an extra accent.

Some historical attributes:

Harp for music; laurel wreath for Apollo;
Sickle and corn sheaf for agriculture and the goddess Ceres;
Basket with fruit for fruit growers and goddess Pomona;
The horn of plenty for happiness and luck, goddess Fortuna;
Winged hat and staff with snakes for trade, Mercury's;
A tub, wine glass, wine tendrils for festive and joy, Bacchus;
A cheerful mask with a wreath for stage, muse, Thalia;
A sad mask with a wreath and staff for stage, muse, Melpomene.

avant-garde since 1900 the name for small groups of young artists, who experiment with new directions in art; in flower art with floral objects, weavings, gluing techniques.