Ikebana in Lockdown - Sandi & Helen to the rescue

New Zealand is in lockdown to fight against the spread of the Covid19 virus. This means we are unable to get together to continue our workshops and private lessons. Our active teachers have put their thinking caps on and come up with alternatives.

Helen Wareham’s last lesson was done by her pupils at home, and photos were emailed to her for comment. Helen has not been idle, and has set herself the discipline of creating an Ikebana arrangement each day from the limited materials available from her Oriental Bay home. These are posted on Helen’s Instagram post - Ikebanawgtn. Do have a look for inspiration.

Sandi Hurnard decided to send suggested lessons (these are optional) to her students.  They are designed to use a restricted number of materials. Try your hand at the following suggestion using green material only. Some of you in warmer areas may be able to include flowering material. Enjoy.

Lockdown Ikebana
Over the lockdown period my pupils and I are embarking on a series of Ikebana workshops to keep ourselves calm and positive.   As materials are not “essential” and can’t be purchased, what is available to you is bound to be limited, I am basing these mini-workshops on things that may be at hand, in your gardens or that you could forage on your daily walk.  You are welcome to join in at any time, you don’t have to be a pupil of mine.  But if you are already studying with a certified Sogetsu Teacher may I suggest you please send photos of your creations to them so they can critique your arrangements.  A different “workshop” will be posted every week of two. 

When taking the photograph please consider the following: Make sure the background and table surface are plain. Avoid placemats or paintings in the background as these detract from the arrangement. Depending on how you take the photo… with a camera or cell phone, the photo may be able to be cropped once it is taken. Photograph the arrangement at the height you would normally be displaying it. Try and capture the 3D quality of the arrangement. Sometimes this means taking the photograph from a slight angle, not necessarily square from the front.  

I will give 2 options for you to choose from.  The first will be pitched at those of you currently studying Book 1 or Book 2.  The second option will be pitched at those studying levels Book 3 or Book 4.  I don’t currently have any pupils studying Book 5 but do feel free to contact me if you fall into this category and I will make a suggestion. 

Sandi’s arrangement in raku pottery moribana vase, using houhere (lacebark – hoheria sexstylosa)

Mini-Workshop One - Horizontal arrangements

You need to collect some branch material that is growing horizontally. This is very important as you cannot collect vertical material and use it horizontally. Have a detailed look around your garden or take your secateurs (hasami) when you go on your short neighbourhood walk. Use materials which are in easy reach. Some trimming of the branches may be necessary. Once you have completed your arrangement, please take time to take a good photograph of your arrangement and email it to Sandi (or another teacher) so they can give you feedback. It would be lovely to post your masterpieces on the website.

Book 1 / 2

If you are a student working on Book 1 or 2, then  go to page 49 (Book 1 Exercise 15). It shows a free style Moribana horizontal arrangement. This is my version (above) that I created using houhere (lacebark) which was growing not far from my house.

Here are versions created by Wellington Sogetsu ikebana students.

Nicole’s horizontal arrangement in yellow ceramic vase using tarata (lemonwood pittosporum eugenioides)

Julie’s arrangement shows pink sedum and Stauntonia vine (Stauntonia Hexaphylla)

Book 3 / 4
For those of you who are regularly doing Free-Style, try Book 3 Lesson 2 “Horizontal Composition”.  I suggest you attempt a Nageire. A drop stick, cross bars, or the direct fixing method is essential as otherwise your arrangement will look flat. The lesson shows several variations of horizontal arrangement. 

If you have already studied Book 4 why don’t you use an atypical nageire container which I have done below.  This arrangement uses crossbar fixings.

For my horizontal arrangement below I used a hand made pot by a NZ potter. My materials include tarata (lemonwood) and grevillia. There are 360 varieties of grevillia, which is native to Australia.  This prostrate version grows down a wall in my garden and I shortened the rather long trailing ends.

Sandi’s nageire horizontal arrangement Book 3 Lesson 2 using tarata (lemonwood) and grevillia

Nicole used kawakawa [piper excelsum], tarata [pittosporum eugenioides], mahoe [whitey-wood

Adriana sourced her Japanese maple and hydrangeas from her own garden