It was my first time to try creating a 3-in-1 Ikebana arrangement. As I go on with my training as an Ikebana sensei, I try to focus on improving my weak areas such as making arrangements without using kenzan; and using unconventional materials. For yesterday’s special lesson with my sensei, I again tried to challenge myself by making arrangements using tall vases. They call this as Nagaire wherein materials are arranged in a tall cylindrical vase without using kenzan or the spiky frog. I always have a hard time making a Nagaire arrangement because placing the materials in certain degree or angle is very delicate; if one flower or stem moves, the whole arrangement is busted. After more than 40 arrangements, I somehow manage to control my materials but I am still not that comfortable.
3-in-1 Ikebana: Three Individual Arrangements as One Composition
To add more to the challenge, I tried to create three individual arrangements that will look unified when they are placed together. Doing so, I refrained myself from placing the vases side-by-side so that I can focus on one particular vase. However, when I finished doing my second and third arrangements, I put them together from time to time to see if the three blend well. My sensei said that this method is a bit difficult but she was glad that my work turned out great.
