Applying the Principles of Art
to the Landscape
Unit: Nursery, Landscaping, and Gardening
Problem Area: Residential Landscape Design
Lesson: Applying the Principles of Art to the Landscape
¢ Student Learning Objectives. Instruction in this lesson should result in students
achieving the following objectives:
1
2
Examine the elements of design.
Apply the principles of design to the landscape.
¢ List of Resources. The following resources may be useful in teaching this lesson:
E-unit 030078: Applying Principles of Art to the Landscape. Danville, IL:
CAERT, Inc. www.mycaert.com
¢ List of Equipment, Tools, Supplies, and Facilities
ü Writing surface
ü Overhead projector
ü Copies of sample test
ü Visuals from accompanying masters
ü Copies of student lab sheets
ü Plant samples
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¢ Terms. The following terms are presented in this lesson (shown in bold italics):
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balance
color
emphasis
form
formal balance
informal balance
line
principles of design
repetition
scale
sequence
texture
unity
unity of three
variety
¢ Interest Approach. Use an interest approach that will prepare the students for the
lesson. Teachers often develop approaches for their unique class and student situations. A
possible approach is included here.
Begin the lesson by setting out several different plant materials. Be sure to
include a variety of types, shapes, sizes, and colors in your plant selection. Have
the students describe the plants to you. Tell the students that they should be as
detailed as possible in their descriptions (e.g., plant no. 1 is low to the ground,
bluish-green in color, with wide leaves). Then have the students work in groups
to decide which plants would work well together in the landscape. Have students
explain why they put certain plants together. Try to encourage the students to
use the principles of art terminology in their discussions.
SUMMARY OF CONTENT AND
TEACHING STRATEGIES
Objective 1: Examine the elements of design.
Anticipated Problem: What are the elements of design?
I. Landscape design is primarily a visual art. Plants and other landscape components are
arranged to produce views pleasing to the eye. Attractive landscapes are achieved by
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following basic principles of art. These principles are the same as those considered by
artists who paint and sculpt. Plants are the major parts of a landscape. Selection of
plants is based on their ability to grow in certain situations as well as on their visual
characteristics. The major design qualities to consider in selecting plants for the
landscape are line, form, texture, and color.
A. Everything in the landscape has line. The outlines of trees and shrubs have line.
Bed patterns separating the lawn from the planting beds have line. The patterns in
patio and deck materials have line.
1. The human eye follows the direction and movement of lines. The eye moves up
and down following the line of upright plants or the corner of a house. The eye
follows the horizontal lines of spreading junipers. It also follows the outline of
an entire mass planting.
2. Line produces emotional and psychological responses. Vertical lines are severe
and when used in excess cause feelings of tension and nervousness. Conversely, horizontal lines provide relaxing, pleasant responses.
B. Form is the three-dimensional shape of a plant. The lines created by the stems
and leaves are what gives form to plants.
1. Common plant forms include columnar, oval, pyramidal, round, vase, and
weeping. Columnar and pyramidal plant forms have high visual energy. Visual
energy is the ability of a plant to attract attention. The more extreme the form,
the more attention the plant will attract.
2. Different plant forms produce different responses. Upright forms provide
accent to a design by capturing attention. Upright forms are difficult to use in
the landscape because they are so visually active. Horizontal, or spreading,
forms are less visually active. They emphasize the breadth of space. Rounded
forms are the most common forms found in nature. They lend themselves well
to groupings and mass plantings.
3. Plant forms greatly influence a landscape design. Using mostly rounded forms
is good practice. Rounded forms help give a natural, informal appearance to
the landscape. They are particularly useful in softening vertical architectural
lines, such as at the corner of a house. A few extreme plant forms can be
added to the design to provide variety and interest.
C. Texture is the characteristic of a plant or other item in terms of coarseness or
fineness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness, and denseness or
thinness.
1. Textures draw out emotional responses. Coarse-textured plants have a higher
visual energy than fine-textured plants. Because of their high visual energy,
coarse-textured plants appear closer to a viewer than they really are. Having
low visual energy, fine-textured plants appear more distant than they actually
are.
2. Plant structures, such as leaves and branches, determine a plant’s texture.
Coarse textures result from large leaves and twigs, dull leaf surfaces, short petioles, and entire leaves. Fine textures result from small leaves and twigs,
glossy leaf surfaces, long petioles, and cut leaves.
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3. In selecting plants for a landscape design, keep the texture of plants in mind.
If all the plants in the landscape have similar textures, the view will be boring.
Interest can be added by varying textures. However, the greatest effectiveness
is achieved if changes in texture take place gradually. A smooth transition from
finer-textured plants to coarser-textured plants is preferred. Never place an
extremely fine-textured plant next to a coarse-textured plant.
4. Selecting plants based in part on their textures is wise. Usually coarse-textured
plants should be used in larger settings. When coarse-textured plants are used
in a small setting, such as a courtyard, they make the setting appear smaller.
A good practice is to use fine-textured plants in small landscape settings or
where the viewers are close to the plantings.
D. Color has the greatest appeal or visual impact of all the design qualities. The
primary concern when considering plant color is the leaves. The source of color is
light.
1. The colors of visible light are classified as either warm or cool. Warm colors,
including yellow, orange, and red, have high visual energy. People find warm
colors striking, stimulating, and cheerful. Cool colors, including violet, blue,
and green, have lower visual energy. Cool colors invoke a feeling of restfulness
and peacefulness.
2. The designer can select plants based on colors to create a desired effect.
Plants with red-green, yellow-green, or black-green foliage have high visual
energy and appear closer to the viewer. Those with blue-green or green foliage
have lower visual energy and tend to recede into the background.
3. The main purpose of using plants in the landscape is to provide a natural
impression and a sense of restfulness. Therefore, green-leafed plants should
dominate the landscape. Plants with warm leaf colors should be used for variety and interest. Be careful, for plants with yellow, maroon, bronze, or variegated leaves can easily dominate a landscape. In the public area, they draw
attention from the house and possibly the door. A good rule to follow is to use
at least nine green plants for every one plant that has a warm leaf color.
Open the lesson with an interest approach. Lead a discussion on line, form,
texture, and color. Use a PowerPoint presentation during the discussion. Lead a
walking tour around campus or in a local residential area, and have the students
identify the qualities of different landscape plants. Assign LS–A.
Objective 2: Apply the principles of design to the landscape.
Anticipated Problem: How are the principles of design applied to the landscape?
II. Artwork appeals to the visual senses. It is pleasing to the eye and often affects the
emotions of a person viewing the object. Artwork is based on principles of design.
Principles of design are rules and guidelines used by an artist or designer to create a
beautiful composition. The principles of design are used in many forms of art. The
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principles covered in this unit are unity, repetition, variety, balance, emphasis,
sequence, and scale.
A. An attractive landscape has a look of oneness when all the components flow
together and create a unified view. This look of oneness is unity. In a unified
landscape, plants do not stand out as individuals. The aim of a well-designed
landscape is to attract and hold the attention of the viewer with a look that is
organized.
1. An interesting concept called the unity of three can be used to unify a landscape. The unity of three is a principle that involves the use of anything in
multiples of three. Three shrubs of the same species and size create oneness
and appear as a unit in a landscape. Subconsciously, the human mind easily
accepts threes as a unit. Odd numbers larger than three, such as five, seven,
or nine, have a similar power, but they progressively lose their sense of unity
as they grow larger. Three has that special property of unity not found with
other numbers. Even numbers of landscape elements, such as two trees or
four shrubs, create contrast and duplication.
2. Unity in the landscape is accomplished by selecting plants based on their qualities of line, form, texture, and color. Careful planning and selection of landscape elements creates a whole picture that appears harmonious.
B. Repetition is the recurrence of lines, forms, textures, and colors of the plants
throughout a design. It has the effect of simplifying and unifying a composition. A
design can be kept simple by using a limited number of different plant species and
by designing groupings that have three, five, or seven plants of the same species.
C. Variety is an assortment or diversity of design elements. If all the plants shared
the same line, form, texture, and color, the view would be uninteresting.
Therefore, provide variety in the design by selecting some plants that differ in line,
form, texture, or color from the mass of plants.
D. Balance provides a sense of equilibrium to a design. Objects in the landscape
carry visual weight based on line, form, texture, color, and size. Upright forms,
coarse-textured plants, and plants with dark green or other dark-colored leaves
have a heavy appearance. On the other hand, rounded forms, fine-textured plants,
and plants with light green or other light-colored leaves appear light in weight. The
goal of the designer is to create visual balance on each side of a view.
1. There are two types of balance: formal, or symmetrical, and informal, or asymmetrical. An imaginary line can be drawn down the middle of a composition. If
the plantings on both sides of the line are identical or mirror images, the composition has formal balance. Designs with formal balance give a feeling of
stability. If the plantings on each side of the line are different, the composition
has informal balance. Although the plantings differ, the visual weights of
these plantings balance each other. Informal balance has a dynamic
appearance.
2. The architectural style of the house dictates whether the public area landscape
can be formal or informal. A house with formal architecture lends itself well to
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matching plantings on either side of the entrance. A house with informal architecture must have different plantings on each side of the entrance.
E. Emphasis indicates dominance of some elements of the design over others. A
landscape design should have a point or points of interest that draw and hold the
attention of the viewer. Points of interest are sometimes called accents. Plants
with visually active qualities, such as extreme forms, coarser textures, and warm
colors, can serve as accents in certain areas of the design. Emphasis can also be
achieved through size, shapes, grouping, and unusual plants.
F. Sequence is the uniformity of change from one item in the landscape to the next.
A smooth transition from one design element to the next is desired over an abrupt
change in design elements. To accomplish a sequence, gradually change form,
texture, or color from one component of the planting to the next. The gradual
sequence actually causes the viewer’s eye to move from one item to the next.
G. Scale is the proportion of one object to another. When an object is in scale, it is
said to be in proportion to its surroundings. It does not look too large or too small
for its location. An object in proper scale fits neatly into a composition with other
elements. Well-proportioned landscapes offer an appearance that is pleasing and
comfortable.
Have students read from texts or other sources about principles of design.
Discuss the application of the principles of design to landscape design. Ask
questions and listen carefully to the answers to determine whether the students
have mastered the concepts. Consider involving an art teacher in the instruction
of the lesson.
¢ Review/Summary. Use the student learning objectives as the basis for review and
summary. Have students explain the content associated with each objective. Use their
responses in determining which objectives and concepts need to be reviewed or taught
from a different angle. The anticipated problems can be used as student review questions.
¢ Application. Use the included visual masters and lab sheets to apply the information
presented in the lesson.
¢ Evaluation. Evaluation should be based on student comprehension of the learning
objectives. This can occur during instruction, review, or later as students apply the
information. The sample written test can also be used.
¢ Answers to Sample Test:
Part One: Matching
1.
2.
3.
4.
j
i
c
g
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
d
f
h
b
a
e
Part Two: Multiple Choice
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
b
d
d
c
b
Part Three: Short Answer
1. A designer can achieve variety by selecting some plants that differ in line, form,
texture, or color from the mass of plants.
2. Any three of the following: columnar, oval, pyramidal, round, vase, weeping
3. If the plantings on both sides of the line are identical, the composition has formal
balance. Designs with formal balance give a feeling of stability. If the plantings on
each side of the line are different, the composition has informal balance. Although
the plantings differ, the visual weights of these plantings balance each other.
Informal balance has a dynamic appearance.
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Sample Test
Name ________________________________________
Applying the Principles of Art
to the Landscape
u Part One: Matching
Instructions: Match the term with the correct definition.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
emphasis
balance
repetition
form
texture
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
scale
sequence
unity
variety
principles of design
_____1. Rules and guidelines used by an artist or designer to create a beautiful composition
_____2. An assortment or diversity of design elements
_____3. The recurrence of lines, forms, textures, and colors of the plants throughout a design
_____4. The uniformity of change from one item in the landscape to the next
_____5. The three-dimensional shape of a plant
_____6. The proportion of one object to another
_____7. The look of oneness when all the components flow together
_____8. Provides a sense of equilibrium to a design
_____9. Indicates dominance of some elements of the design over others
____10. The characteristic of a plant or other item in terms of coarseness or fineness,
roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness, and denseness or thinness
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u Part Two: Multiple Choice
Instructions: Write the letter of the correct answer.
_____1. What is true regarding warm colors?
a.
b.
c.
d.
They tend to recede into the background.
They are visually stimulating.
They invoke a feeling of restfulness and peacefulness.
They have low visual energy.
_____2. A good rule to follow is to use at least _____ green plants for every one plant that has a
warm leaf color.
a.
b.
c.
d.
one
three
six
nine
_____3. What concept is addressed when three shrubs of the same species and size are used in
a landscape to create oneness?
a.
b.
c.
d.
lines of force
principle of segregation
principle of design
unity of three
_____4. Which type of plant form should be used the most in a landscape?
a.
b.
c.
d.
columnar
pyramidal
rounded
weeping
_____5. What design principle is associated with points of interest that provide accents?
a.
b.
c.
d.
balance
emphasis
sequence
variety
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u Part Three: Short Answer
Instructions: Complete the following.
1. How can a designer achieve variety in the landscape?
2. List three common forms (shapes) of plant material.
3. How do formal and informal balance compare?
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VM–A
LINE
Outlines of trees and shrubs have line.
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VM–B
PLANT FORMS
COLUMNAR
English Oak
OVAL
Sugar Maple
PYRAMIDAL
ROUND
VASE
WEEPING
Norway Maple
Hackberry
White Fir
Weeping Willow
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VM–C
TEXTURE IS:
Coarse
Light
Dense
Fine
Heavy
Thin
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VM–D
TEXTURE RESULTS FROM:
Glossy Surface
White Underside
Length of Petiole
Size of Leaf
Size of Twig
Entire or Cut Leaf
Spacing Between
Leaves
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VM–E
COLOR
Warm Colors
t Yellow, orange, red
t Cheerful and stimulating
t Tend to advance toward the viewer and suggest
closeness
Cool Colors
t Green, blue, violet
t Restful
t Tend to recede from the viewer and suggest distance
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VM–F
REPETITION
Repetition is accomplished by repeating lines, forms,
textures, and colors.
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VM–G
VARIETY
Variations in line, form, texture, and color can focus
attention and add interest to the design.
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VM–H
BALANCE
Symmetrical Balance (Formal)
Asymmetrical Balance (Informal)
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VM–I
EMPHASIS
Change in form
Change in texture
Change in color
Garden accessory
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VM–J
SEQUENCE
1
2
3
4
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VM–K
SCALE
This house appears larger than it is.
This house appears smaller than it is.
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LS–A
Name ________________________________________
Form, Texture, and Color
Instructions: Complete the table. Identify 15 common woody plants used for landscaping in your
region. Then, use various resources to determine each plant’s form, texture, and color.
Plant
Form
Texture
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Color
LS–B
Name ________________________________________
Principles of Design
Instructions: Provide the word or words to complete the following statements.
1. The human eye follows the direction and movement of _________________________.
2. _________________________ is the three-dimensional shape of a plant.
3. _________________________ is the characteristic of a plant or other item in terms of
coarseness or fineness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness, and denseness or
thinness.
4. _________________________ has the greatest appeal or visual impact of all the design
qualities.
5. _________________________ are rules and guidelines used by an artist or designer to create
a beautiful composition.
6. The look of oneness is __________________________.
7. The _________________________ is a principle that involves the use of anything in multiples
of three.
8. _________________________ is the recurrence of lines, forms, textures, and colors of the
plants throughout a design.
9. _________________________ is an assortment or diversity of design elements.
10. _________________________ provides a sense of equilibrium to a design.
11. If the plantings on both sides of the line are identical, the composition has
_________________________.
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12. If the plantings on each side of the line are different, the composition has
_________________________.
13. _________________________ indicates dominance of some elements of the design over
others.
14. _________________________ is the uniformity of change from one item in the landscape to
the next.
15. _________________________ is the proportion of one object to another.
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