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The Principles and Elements of great design in floral art and flower arranging is finally now available in an exclusive CD, " Principles and Elements in Floral Design" with Ngaire Clarke. Try a lesson on each element and principle with a floral project to try, read more here. The feature illustrated here is rhythm

today's design principle
Rhythm
"The visual movement achieved in design by repetition, graduation, variation or radiation. Motion and rest sustain interest in design." from 'Flair' published by FASNZ.

Rhythm is achieved in a design if you have managed to move the viewers focus from one point to another. This can be done , as the definition states, by graduation. Graduation is achieved when you grade the flowers from the smallest at the edges of the arrangement and the larger flowers are at the bottom or in the area of prominance.You can also grade the colours in a design with strong colours at the focal area and lighter colours further out. In this way the viewers focus moves from the stronger colours to the weaker ones.

Contrast is the basis of all good floral design and this is true too with rhythm, as the eye needs to rest for a while on a design, before it takes off again following another path you have set for it. Therefore you need to also create  calm spots and this can be achieved with round forms or flat smooth leaves.

Line material such as reeds, rope, branches, twigs, grasses,  and ribbon can also create rhythm. As Poppy's design on the right shows, repeating several line forms with variation has created strong visual movement.
Several curves lines have a strong rhythm. If all lines are the same, regular rhythm can be created by shortening or lengthening some of the material.

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Poppy Fuller of Kerikeri New Zealand  designed this whirl of visual movement and rhythm called "The Twister"  for the Northland Designer of the Year 2001.

Poppy used lichen, dried reeds, feathers, honesty seeds, red and green New Zealand Flax, stripped willow bark, copperwire and strips of gum bark wound around a metal frame to create the effect.It is a wonderfully free example of movement and rhythm created by repetition and variation. She used variable rhythm  when the same type of line is used but they vary in shape and length

This design is by Diana Snowden of Kaitaia , New Zealand. The bottom placement shows perfectly how a round form among  lines of movement allows your eye to rest for a moment, before it travels on.If you are a beginner see if you can pick the other rhythmical devices Diana has used in the larger placement.

Diana used lilies wrapped in tubes from Puka leaves, reeds, brown magnolia leaves, succulents and lichen with the flower of the bangalow palm
Wreaths can be wonderful examples of rhythm and no more so than in the wonderful book "Garlands, Circles and Decorative Wreaths. In the example in the left, from the book, you will see variable rhythm as the lavender, lovage, artemisia and tarragon have all been added in parallel lines. However the round forms and darker colours still provide the essential area of rest.With over 100 projects to try or use as sources of inspiration for your own ideas,this book will become one of your favourites.
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The New Silk Flower book is totally devoted to designs by  a group of talented floral artists using silk flowers that will last! The design to the left shows a classic arrangement with rhythm from the book. The flowers are graded from large in the focal point to smaller on the extremes. The two vines enclose space and give the sense of rhythm as they move the eye along the two lines. If you enjoy the longevity of silk flowers and would like to make your arrangement look as  real as this, you will get full instructions in the New Silk Flower Book.. It covers arrangements, wreaths and decorations for each season of the year, in many different styles. 
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