Basic Ikebana Arrangement Techniques for beginners enjoy

Basic Ikebana Arrangement Techniques for beginners enjoy
Ikebana, a Japanese traditional culture, may have a strong image of being a formal and difficult art to learn. However, if you have a basic knowledge of ikebana, you can create ikebana works that can be used to entertain guests at home or to decorate family events. In this article, we will introduce basic knowledge of ikebana that even beginners can try.

The Basics of Ikebana

Ikebana is a Japanese traditional culture in which flowers and plants are arranged in vessels to create works of art. Ikebana is created by arranging as few flowers and plants as possible to create a work that makes the most of the space. The basic principle of ikebana is to carefully observe the flowers and plants, and to use not only the flowers but also the branches and leaves to create a work of art. While there are many different styles of ikebana in the real world, you can freely arrange flowers, plants, and trees at home without being bound by any particular style of ikebana.

Flower arranging, which originated in Europe and the United States, is said to be similar to ikebana as a way to enjoy flowers. However, the fundamentals of both are very different. While ikebana is an aesthetic of subtraction that emphasizes artistry and the minimal amount of flowers required, floral arrangement is an aesthetic of addition that emphasizes flamboyance and the combination of many flowers. In other words, ikebana uses a small number of flowers and plants to make the most of space, while floral arrangement fills the space with a large number of flowers and plants.

Tools Used in Ikebana

Tools Used in Ikebana The minimum tools required for ikebana are a vase for arranging flowers and plants, a flower holder such as a kenzan or cloisonne to hold the flowers, and floral scissors for trimming the flowers. These items are sometimes sold as a set, so it is recommended that you have all of them if you enjoy ikebana at home.

If you use a vase for enjoying ikebana at home, you do not necessarily need to prepare all the special tools for ikebana. Vases can be substituted with glasses or cups of your favorite design. Even if you do not have a flower holder when you do ikebana at home, you can easily enjoy ikebana by using a sponge or a plastic bottle cut into a spiral shape that you have at home. In addition, a bowl for water, a misting sprayer, and a wire to hold the flower arrangement in place are also useful.

Basic Ikebana Arrangement for Beginners

Basic Ikebana Arrangement for Beginners Before starting ikebana, observe the flowers and plants to be arranged. Even the same flower has a different face one by one. The first basic rule is to observe the flowers carefully and try to find the best angle from which to arrange them. Use as few types of flowers as possible for ikebana and incorporate flowers that are in season.

Select the main material.

Next, select the "main material," the branch that will be the centerpiece of the piece. The basic rule is to use a three branched branch as the main material, and insert the main material into the flower clasp with the tip facing straight up. The other two branches should be cut as needed.

Selecting the material and arrangement

After arranging the two main flowers, the "arrangement materials," the flowers and plants are added to fill in the gaps between the two main flowers. Although the name "ikebana" tends to suggest that flowers are the main focus of ikebana, plants and foliage are also important elements. Adding green foliage to the arrangement along with the flowers will enhance the beauty of the flowers.

Perform nejime

Finally, the "nejime" process is performed, in which leaves and other foliage are added to the foot of the main material to hold the flower arrangement together and also to hide the flower clasp. This is the basic process of ikebana arrangement.

When arranging flowers, it is tempting to arrange many kinds of flowers and plants, but if you add too many kinds of flowers, you tend to end up with an uncoordinated work of art. The key to ikebana is to keep the number of flowers and plants used to the minimum necessary, which is an aesthetic of subtraction to make the most of the space without using too many flowers.

Things to keep in mind when doing ikebana

Things to keep in mind when doing ikebana When doing ikebana, it is easier to create a beautiful ikebana if you calm yourself down before picking up the flowers, rather than just arranging flowers in a vase without thinking. Another important point when arranging flowers is to keep your surroundings clean. Make sure that your surroundings are not cluttered, and if they are, tidy them up and put them away before arranging flowers. It is also said that utensils represent one's own mind. It is also important to make sure that the tools used for ikebana are clean and tidy before use.

Despite these points to keep in mind, ikebana at home is a casual hobby that can be enjoyed without any formalities. If you are a beginner in ikebana, try arranging flowers and plants freely and you will feel the joy of ikebana.

Summary

Ikebana is often preconceived as being difficult and difficult to learn, but if you are a beginner, you can experience the joy of ikebana just by arranging flowers, plants, and trees. If you have the basics of ikebana introduced here, you can easily create flower arrangements that look like ikebana, so why not start by enjoying ikebana at home freely using flowers and plants of your choice?

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