It's the first day of spring, March 21, which means a lot of flowers are coming soon. Wahoo!
I recently participated in my first Ikebana class of the Sogetsu school if Ikebana. I have taken Ikebana lessons from a master of a different style before so it was quite fun to learn Japanese flower arranging in a new way. My Sogetsu sensei taught me some tips to take my arrangement to the next level:
1. An Ikebana arrangement always has three structures that create the frame of the piece. These are known as Shin, Sua, and Tai. Using this guide helped me find the perfect starting branches and adjust my structure.
Shin is the tallest branch, 1 1/2 times the size of your base, also known as the father.
Sua is a branch 2/3 the size of father, the mother.
Tai is the smallest branch, 3/4 the size of mother, the child.
2. When trimming the stem, cut under water. The water will rush through the stem and give the flower a surge of nutrients.
3. If you want to create movement to your piece, gently open the blossoms in varying degrees. This mimics different bloom times and brings strength and depth to the arrangement.
A dull ikebana lacks dynamics of rhythm, density, and intensity. In the end, the four principles according to Sogetsu are a fresh approach, movement, balance, and harmony. When thinking about harmony, a specific 90s group came to mind as the perfect companion to my arrangement. Enjoy! #itsplantporn
