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Flower and foliage arrangements of today may be generally classified as line, mass or line-mass (“massed line”) arrangements. A line arrangement emphasizes line; a mass arrangement emphasizes mass (and color). A line-mass arrangement combines both line and mass effects.
Line arrangements have developed greatly in the United State since our study of Japanese flower arrangement. The Japanese have been masters of line arrangements for centuries.
A line arrangement may be defined as one in which the lines are of foremost importance and the plant material is sparse. In a flower show an entry is a class entitled line arrangements must not have much plant material at the base or it will be classified as a line-mass arrangement.
Line arrangements after have special expensive qualities of theme and mood difficult to achieve in other arrangements. They convey a dynamic feeling of action and movement that cannot be obtained in mass arrangements. Line arrangements are symbolic of activity and life and are vibrant moving, slender, and youthful. Line arrangements encourage creative experimentation and originality because they feature the natural lines of the plant materials and do not conform to any set patterns.
The characteristics of good line arrangements are:
Restraint and clarity of line. Limitation in the quality of plant materials uses is essential. A good line arrangement shows that it is the product of thoughtful restraint. Simplicity is one of the qualities of superiority in flower arrangements, as it is in the other arts.
Clarity of line is essential in line arrangements. The leading lines must stand out, clean-cut and strong, so that they will be dominant in the design. These lines should be so compelling that an observer does not pause long at any particular place but continuous to follow the lines with ease. The lines may be adorned with leaves or flowers but they should not be obscured. It is usually necessary to remove some leaves, twigs or flowers from any material that is used.
Art Principles:
Rhythm is the most important principle to consider in making a line arrangement. The subordinate lines should follow the leading line except possibly for some short opposing lines at the base. Any lines that disturb the rhythm should be pruned away, including crossing lines, straight horizontals, and monotonous, repetitions or inconsequential lines.
Dominance of line over everything else including color and texture is to be expected in a line arrangement. Since the line element is featured, it seems unnecessary to have another center of interest or focal area. The focal area should be subordinate to the line material if possible. Round flowers placed at the center of interest hold the attention too long, therefore oval or pointed flowers, or seed pods are better and they should point in the same direction as the leading line.
Balance in line arrangements is usually asymmetrical, for the scalene triangle (all sides unlike) is the most popular shape employed. Sometimes however, modern stylized line arrangements are symmetrical, often with dramatic architectural effects. Since line arrangements are sparse they encourage experimentation in balance.
Proportion must be considered carefully, because it is easy to use a container too large for the sparse materials employed in a line arrangement. The test of proper proportion is to have more area in plant materials than in the container and base. Since the lines are usually slender they can extend several times the height or length of the containers without making arrangements seem top heavy or too tall. Large line arrangements are effective as room decoration, but small ones merely decorate the surfaces on which they stand.
Radiation is important in line arrangements, since all the stems should meet at the same place on the small stem holder.
Variation is necessary in the silhouette of a line arrangement and the voids must be carefully planned so they are different in size and shape. The solids too should vary in length and thickness and in power of attractiveness. Where so little material is presented, every item should be different from the others in some respect in order to prevent monotony.
Transition from density at the heart of the arrangement to thinness at the extremities is achieved by adding plant material at the base and also by removing any large leaves or flowers toward the outer ends of the lines.
Plant Material for Line Arrangement:
Some plant materials are suitable for line arrangements and some are not; for example, spirea sprays are usable but peonies are not. A few branches from a flowering pear, plum or cherry tree could form an excellent line arrangement, but would be wasted in a mass effect.
Some other good line materials are fuchsia, barberry, variegated privet, scotch broom, and dogwood. One can also make line arrangements entirely of foliage or of buds which have beauty. One can bend some straight branches o stems into desired leaves. Weathered dry twigs or roots are practical for permanent line arrangements to which a few living flowers may occasionally be added.
Homemakers will find that line arrangements are economical, Since they can be made with small amounts of plant materials. Even women who have no gardens can sometimes find intensity weeds and often suitable line materials along roads and in vacant lots.
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