NATURALLY DRIED MATERIALS

Although dried botanical materials are dead they often have beautiful colour, subtle textures and interesting forms; qualities which make particularly interesting subjects for ikebana. Recently, my Geelong and Torquay students were set the exercise of arranging naturally dried material as the principal subject in their ikebana. To this they were then to add some fresh material to give 'life' to the dried material.

Judy used a dried palm spathe which she set in a large vessel, made by the New South Wales ceramic artist Sergio Sill. The strong line of the spathe was emphasised by removing the dried leaves from the curving stem.

 

Her fresh material was some purple Statice with a single leaf, the margin of which formed an "S" curve.

 

In the Geelong class Helen Q arranged three Cycad inflorescences. The materials were set in an unusual suiban placed on its side, to which a small branch of dark green leaves from the Cycad are peeping out.

Helen M set some fine lines of dried seaweed in a contemporary-styled black bottle-shaped vessel. Her fresh materials are the delicate flowers of some wild Fennel.

Tess used two large dried leaves of Strelitzia nicolai in a Japanese ceramic vessel. A small mass of red flowering gum, Corymbia ficifolia, was placed at the back of the work and  showed to one side and through slits in the leaves.

Maureen's principal material was a graduated group of dried Agapanthus flower heads, which she secured with wire to form a crescent line. The fresh material, an unidentified orange flower, provided a bright contrast. The light materials sat well in the basket-like Japanese bamboo vase. 

Ellie's principal material was a palm inflorescence with sinuous lines set on an ash-glazed Japanese ceramic vase. The fresh material is a strikingly coloured Zinnea.

 A month ago I had done this same exercise at home using naturally dried Agave leaves with Corymbia flowers and leaves. I subsequently re-worked some of the dried materials with new fresh materials, in a different vase. 

As you can see this vase is tall and narrow. Its black tenmoku glaze harmonises well with the black in the dried Agave leaves and strengthens the bold design. The Crassula arborescens flowers provide a focal point that also picks up the pale yellow in the dried leaves.

Greetings from Christopher

19th February 2022