Flower arrangement, also known as the art of Ikebana, involves arranging flowers in containers such as vases, dishes, or pots rather than planting them in these containers.
The flowers or plant materials used, be it branches, blooms, or leaves, are without roots and represent only a part of the plant. It's not a random arrangement but rather a deliberate selection based on a specific concept, following creative principles to create a graceful form or shape.
Through this art, a theme is expressed, emotions and sentiments are conveyed, pleasing the eye of the beholder, providing a sense of aesthetic beauty, and evoking a pleasant feeling.
Flower arranging largely satisfies subjective and emotional needs, serving as a special form of leisure in daily life. If you're someone with little background in floral art but have a passion for flowers and aspire to arrange them at home or even become a floral designer by opening a flower shop, it's essential to familiarize yourself with some foundational knowledge.
Understanding these basics will give you a preliminary insight into floral art, preventing you from feeling lost when it comes to flower arranging and laying the groundwork for further learning. Some people might think that flower arranging is merely buying a few flowers and placing them in a vase for decoration, but this perception undermines the depth of this art form. With a history spanning thousands of years in both Eastern and Western cultures, flower arranging involves profound standards, techniques, and principles that have evolved over centuries.
So, what are the essential floral art skills you should grasp? Let's take a look:
Different Forms of Flower Arrangement:
1. Staircase Style: Flowers are arranged in a tiered manner resembling steps, with varying distances between each flower, creating a sense of steps. Flowers like roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, and tulips are suitable for this style. It can be arranged as a step formation at the base or elevated in a group, with fully bloomed flowers at the lowest level and smaller buds placed above.
2. Overlapping Style: Utilizing flat-shaped leaves or flowers to create a layered effect. Leaves like galax, pumpkin leaves, and telegraph plant leaves, along with flowers like sunflowers and corn slices, can be overlapped, ensuring minimal space between each piece. Pay attention to the size correlation between the overlapping leaves or petals.
3. Accumulation Style: Characterized by numerous flowers or diverse colors, creating undulating waves akin to the sea. Flowers with short stems, arranged closely without gaps, using pointy or block-like materials such as roses, carnations, starflowers, peacock flowers, chrysanthemums, moss, and even stones for expressing colors at the base.
4. Focal Point: The most conspicuous element of the arrangement, usually featuring flowers with distinctive shapes, vibrant colors, or larger blooms. Flowers like oriental lilies, amaryllis, heliconias, birds of paradise, bananas, and orchids work well as focal points. Special shapes or vibrant colors are preferred, or smaller flowers in quantity to create a focal point.
Trimming branches and flowers from each season, choosing a vessel, and engaging in flower arranging with genuine dedication achieve a balance between flowers and the container. This pursuit respects life, elevating the simple act of arranging flowers into an art form, which embodies the essence of flower arranging.
Modern life often creates a distance from nature. Arranging flowers in one's own space helps bridge this gap, improving the quality of life by fostering a closer relationship with nature. Regular interaction with flowers can enhance overall well-being and bring a sense of joy to individuals.
