We are all artists at heart. Flower arranging is forgiving because we can keep rearanging until we are pleased. Here are some basics of flower arranging, including the japanese style.
All people are artists at heart. No matter if we are planting a garden, decorating a room, making a meal, or welding we get pleasure from seeing our work done well. As humans we like to create things. Flower arranging gives us that opportunity.
Flower arranging has been around for centuries and any amateur can be successful with it. Flowers are about the most appealing art media there is. A single flower is beautiful in itself, but when we group flowers together we get a feeling inside that just makes us smile. We paint flowers and put flowers on our fabric.
Flowers, unlike other art media, are forgiving. You can arrange and rearrange until you are happy with the outcome. There are endless possibilities in flower arranging. You can have a formal arrangement or an informal one. You can have a large, medium or small arrangement of flowers. Flowers can be dried and made into arrangements that way. Flowers are pressed and used in making greeting cards and more.
A garden basket full of cut flowers and herbs and greenery is beautiful. Masses of flowers on the roadside are beautiful to see as you travel. Mixing fruit and flowers is very common. Many materials for beautiful bouquets can be used. Almost any natural object is good to use with flowers. Today, they even use other man-made objects to add to flower arrangements. Almost anything you can think of can be used in some form or fashion.
Flowers, foliage, rocks, pebbles, driftwood, bark, shells, and many more things can be used in flower arranging. Use containers that you normally would not think of to hold flowers, such as a hollowed out piece of wood. Use your imagination. Try using grasses, seedpods, and use techniques of your own. Preserve flowers for these bouquets or use them fresh.
The kind of arrangement that is informal and looks like you just brought them in from the garden is very appealing to most people. The Chinese have a way with flowers that comes from respect and love. The flowers are symbols of many things in the Orient. In the sixth century the Chinese took their art and love of cut flowers to Japan. There is much history behind flower arranging that is very interesting. Priests, generals, painters and more had their hand in styles of flower arranging.
One style in Japan that is very popular is the Shoka arrangement of flowers. It is also referred to as the Ikenobo style. This style has three main lines: heaven or "ten", earth or "chi", and man or "jin". Shrines in Japanese homes consist of scroll painting, a treasured art object and a Shoka arrangement of flowers. Over the centuries Japan had developed many more styles that are each beautiful.
Flower arranging became a living art form with influences from the east and the west, past and future combined. As styles have changed over the years, the production of ornamental vases became a new trend. The tools of flower arranging have changed over the years. The old "frogs" used for holding flowers have been replaced with a green oasis material. The "frogs" are collectibles today.
Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Choose flowers that are almost open fully, cut at a slant and place in water.
2. Remove bruised petals and leaves that do not look very good. Let flowers condition themselves by letting them stand upright in water in a cool, dark place for a few hours.
3. When the flowers are conditioned and ready for arranging, hold the stem under water and trim off half and inch, cutting the stem at a slant. For woody stems, split each stem lengthwise for an inch or so and crush the end of the stem. If you have milky or hollow stems, sear them over a flame or dip the stems in boiling water.
4. Change the water in the vase every day for fresh arrangements.
5. The vase should be 1/3 the height of the finished arrangement. Most people make their arrangements too short and not full enough. Don't be afraid to give your arrangement some height.
6. Have a theme for your arrangement and match the flowers to the vase. For instance you may want to put an informal arrangement of many cottage style flowers in an old white pitcher.
7. Put your colors together in a pleasing way. You may want an all green arrangement, a red, white and blue arrangement, an all white arrangement or a rainbow of colors in an arrangement.
8. Use at least three different kinds of flowers in an arrangement. They can be the same color, but different shades or they can be different colors that compliment each other.
9. Baby's breath is used as filler. It works very well and is a neutral color.
10. Greenery can be used as a background or filler. All arrangements can use some greenery.
11. Flower arrangements can go in every room.
12. Flowers can be for men or for women. It is said that giving a man flowers will reduce his stress level.
13. Flowers bring calmness and peace to a room.
14. Give flowers when you say hello or goodbye.
