HORIZONTAL ARRANGEMENTS

This week I set my Torquay students the exercise of making an ikebana arrangement in the horizontal style using two tall vessels. The idea is that the arrangement should be seen as a single one even though two vessels are used. This idea of combining arrangements in two vessels is introduced at the end of the second level of the Sogetsu curriculum. Later, in the advanced curriculum, there are exercises that encourage students to use more than two vessels to make a single work.

I set this exercise for the students to give them additional practise in the various fixing techniques used when working in tall vessels. Although this was challenging the results were satisfying. Below are photos from the class.

Róża used a fine-leafed grevillea from her garden for the branch material and a Pincushion Hakea H. laurina, for the hikae at the centre.

Judy used Casuarina and Thryptomene calycina as branch material with a single Banksia  flower.

Giana has used a leptospermum (I think) and narcissus as a floral focus.

Val used some fine dried material, Nerines and asparagus fern Asparagus plumosus.

Kim has used some fine dried material for his principal horizontal line and bougainvillea as a flora focus. He has also connected his two vessels using a curving piece of driftwood.

A couple of weeks ago, at Elizabeth's  class, we were set the exercise of making an arrangement using a single branch and only one flower. I decided that I should use a branch with a strong character, so I chose a dead branch of Moonah Melaleuca lanceolata that had interesting lines. Elizabeth kindly lent me a Camellia 'Kamo Hon Ami' flower from her garden.

I set the branch and flower in a pale celadon- glazed bottle-shaped vase by Barry Singleton from Castlemaine. The flower and its two green leaves made a strong contrast to the branch and gave life to the arrangement.

Greetings from Christopher
15th June 2019