Ikebana in our Bubbles — Sogetsu School Wellington

As we continue in isolation at Alert Level 4 in our ‘bubbles’, I, Sandi, have decided to suggest several exercises for you to practice. I know that you will probably be finding it more and more difficult to source materials so perhaps some of my efforts will give you ideas. All my suggestions are based on the latest Sogetsu Foundation textbooks but for those of you who are contemplating studying ikebana, please feel free to try your hand at these. I have divided the exercises into five mini-workshops which are based on separate topics.

Please scroll down the blog to follow Mini Workshops 2 - 5. Enjoy gathering materials and arranging.

Mini Workshop 2

The theme of this workshop is water. The elements have a role in ikebana and water as well as air (space) is very important. Given that flowers are still unavailable, it will be only necessary to resource a few materials to create an arrangement which should give you pleasure.

Floating Arrangement - Book 2 Lesson 17

This arrangement uses a flat bottomed moribana container. Usually a round container is selected but this is not essential. While larger flowers such as sunflowers, chrysanthemum and daisy are often used and look effective, if your container is patterned, Kasumi Teshigahara (the second Iemoto of Sogetsu) recommends keeping the surface exposed as much as possible. The examples shown on page 106 make use of line to divide the surface into parts. This ensures that the water plays an important role. It is the norm to have some material extending beyond the edges of the container. Kenzan (pin holder) are not usually used but if you do then it should be small and completely covered by your materials.

Sandi used hydrangea petals and flax for this floating arrangement

Sandi used viburnum and the last white roses for another floating arrangement

Focusing on the Uses of Water - Book 4 lesson 12

Those of you with Textbook 3 & 4 can look at the examples on page 87 which was my focus rather than the “floating” form arrangement shown on page 86. I chose the echeveria elegans (also known as Mexican Snowball) as it is commonly grown throughout the North Island. Usually this is a plant that I ignore as it is heavy and difficult to manipulate. It has a tendency to either float when you want it to sink or vice versa, depending on the weight and size of the flowerhead, so be warned. To quote from our textbook – water “is regarded more consciously as an element of the composition” and “water is added as another means of expression”. Make good use of the effect your material makes under water.

Make sure you make good use of the effect your material makes under water.

Glass Containers - Book 5-4

For those of you with a copy of Text book 5, read Lesson 4 on Glass Containers. Notice the effect that curvature and or colour have on the materials. For example the container below distorts the visual size of the leaves and eggs.

Eggs, aspidistra and penstemon (bear tongue)

Mini Workshop 3

Variation No. 4 Upright Moribana - Book 2 Lesson 5

This is my version of a Moribana Variation No 4 Book 2 Lesson 5. I have used some dried willow for the branch material. The willow is very crooked but because the tip of the branch and the base where it enters the kenzan are vertical this is considered to be “upright”. Imagine drawing a straight line between the two points and using a protractor. The angle is almost 15 degrees between the two ends and therefore the branch is considered upright. Soe reinforces the Shin line.

Variation No. 4 Upright Nageire - Book 2 lesson 5

For the nageire version of this arrangement, I have used the viburnum oculus (snowball bush). The leaves of the bush in my garden are turning lovely autumn shades but unfortunately some insect has decided they would make a yummy meal. I have also used a few dahlia flowers and reused the nandina domestica leaves that I used at our March 8th workshop! What a lifetime ago that seems and aren’t we doing well!

Happy arranging until next time.

Mini Workshop 4 - Only one kind of material

I have just been for a walk and managed to find some very late flowering agapanthus. My eyes feasted on the lovely blue as there is no longer the plethora of road-side-material that there was just a few weeks ago.

Sandi used agapanthus flowers and leaves

To quote the text book (Book 4 lesson 4) “this arrangement can become boringly dull”. I hope you don’t find my creation dull as the stem and the leaves are quite handsome. There are 3 different examples in the textbook , one for a flowering shrub, branch material only, and a flower only. The onion flowers in the example work because the arrangement makes clever use of the stems which add movement. Why don’t you have a go and creating something yourself?