Throwing a bouquet of flowers into a vase can create a thing of beauty, but most often, it does not. There’s an art to arranging flowers, and one Washington designer will share that art in a six-week class in January.

Beth Baker, of Cotton Sails Designs & Events in downtown Washington, will teach participants the basic tools, mechanics, principles and design elements of floral art.

“The first go ’round is the basics, then you build on that to take it into the different aspects of floral design,” Baker said.

Proper wire wrapping, stem prep, flower care, bow tying and simple centerpieces are part of the basic curriculum, as is incorporating the seven elements of floral design: proportion, scale, harmony, unity, rhythm, balance and emphasis.

Proportion is the relationship between parts — flowers, foliage, the container used and accessories — while scale refers to the size of a floral piece and its setting; for example, the size of centerpiece compared with to the table on which it will be placed. The combination of materials, textures and colors determines harmony, or how pleasing the arrangement is to the eye, and unity is achieved when all the pieces are interpreted as a single piece, as opposed to its individual parts. Rhythm refers to the visual flow, created with different materials, textures and colors, that keeps the viewer engaged; emphasis, a main feature that immediately draws the eye to a point defined by form, size, texture or color. Visual balance, whether asymmetrical or symmetrical, is achieved when a piece appears balanced to the eye.

Baker is well-versed in the seven elements: she’s had 27 years of experience in the floral- and event-planning industries. She said she sees the course as a starting point for anyone who wants to start with the basics and work up to the more nuanced art of floral design.

“When I started the process, my though was along the lines of do-it-yourselfers — people who were thinking about doing a small, backyard wedding themselves or for events at their home,” Baker said. “The backyard gardener is the perfect person for this class, because it can extend the flowers they’re cultivating one step further, so they can take that beauty into their home or share it with others. I know we’ve got a lot of avid gardeners in the area.”

Baker, who is also part owner of Wine & Design, and the Wine Crate, will hold the classes in the Wine & Design space on Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. starting Jan. 4.

Baker said she’s keeping the class size small so that she can give more hands-on instruction to participants. The charge per person is $65, and there are very few spots left in the inaugural class, she said.

For more information, call 252-347-5560 or email cottonsailsdesign@gmail.com.