There have been many times where the image in my head just doesn’t work out in reality. And you know what? It has RARELY disappointed me. This is definitely one of those instances – where the design just didn’t net out the same way as I had envisioned.

Ikebana is a bit different than other forms of expression because you’re dealing with nature. I can’t really prepare too far in advance because the flower shop may not have the same material today as it did yesterday. Or, the flowers you saw out in the wild over the weekend might have wilted overnight. Because nature is ever-changing and because every living thing goes through its life cycle, you have to be flexible as an artist when your material is still animate and just know that some things are just out of your control. The very thing I love about ikebana is it requires me to be adaptable as an artist. Sometimes the material you choose won’t sit in the container at the angle you envisioned. Perhaps the branch is too heavy, or maybe the flower stem isn’t sturdy enough to support its own weight. These are only a few factors that I encounter sometimes which may change the direction (literally) of the design. For reasons like this, I ended up changing my design while creating this arrangement at the exhibit. Who knew that simply flipping the driftwood upside down would turn out to be the quintessential factor in making this design work? I love it when doing something so simple makes all the difference. Everything came together perfectly!

Both containers rested on these incredible birch tree slices – which added such a great contrasting texture of whites and darks to the beige undertones. Also, the underside of the ridges in the driftwood texture matched up nicely with the layering bark texture on the birch. The curving Laurel branch, in conjunction with the driftwood, provided enough support to angle each of the Canna Lily stems. This finally left ample space below to place each of the gold Rudbeckia flowers. With everything balancing (literally) upon each other, I was amazed when I stepped back and looked at this striking composition – how the piece still maintained such a natural look to it – like you had stumbled upon it in nature. The Rudbeckias just commanded the stage, as their golden aura emitted a warm enticing glow. It was such a different style than my previous exhibit pieces – and really different from my style in general. My only regret was that it was only up for the two days of the festival. Since these are not transportable, all of the arrangements by students in our Ichiyo School were taken down and will only live on through photos.

I’m honored to have had the opportunity to participate in what was my 5th year at Japan Fest this year. I must say… to be surrounded by so many other ikebana artists in my school was truly an enlightening experience all around. Everyone took a different approach, and together we were able to share our works of art with the 10,000 attendants at this year’s festival. Thanks to all of you who came out this past weekend. I am truly grateful and appreciative for your support!

A special thanks to Kazem Arshi from OC Pottery. I found his work on Etsy and commissioned him to create the containers for this exhibit. He was truly wonderful to work with and so accommodating! The containers were even more beautiful in person than in the pictures. Thank you, Kazem!

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Material Used: Gold Rudbeckia “Sonora”, Bay Laurel, Canna Lily “Australia”, Driftwood from the mountains of North Carolina,

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up your space – whether it’s in at home or your place of business. These would also be beautiful centerpiece options for any event: memorials, funerals, weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.

Earlier this summer in May, James “Peder” Earl Bruce fought his last battle with cancer. To celebrate his life and numerous accomplishments, friends, family and colleagues came to his home in Atlanta to pay homage to this great architect.

When I was commissioned to create the arrangements for his memorial, I knew I wanted to do something sculptural and have a special meaning, something that was very architectural, modern, simplistic and ultimately, had a vertical composition or upward movement to each piece.

The first arrangement I created was a large centerpiece on the main food table which was placed outside at the entrance in the garage. Knowing this was going to be surrounded by food, I chose a red and orange theme, two colors primarily used to provoke hunger. Since people were walking around all four sides, the composition was constructed to have interesting views from 360 degrees. From every angle, the Gladiolas commanded your attention, accented by angled lines and dynamic symmetry. Finally, I wanted to finish off the overall concept by featuring earth at the bottom – with the stones and water – and using the red and yellow lines to lead your eye up through the piece in an ascending nature. Thereby tying in the concept centered around Peder rising up as he transitions between worlds.

The second piece also had a similar meaning, but this one was a completely different composition. Also symmetrical in nature, this was placed on a small table that greeted you as you entered the house and living room area. Since this table resided behind the couch, I knew the piece needed to be horizontal in nature and needed to be shallow in depth in order to withstand people walking by or sitting down. It was also in a high traffic area, so I tried to make sure it had clean lines and didn’t have too much complexity to the design. To brighten up the room, I chose flowers and branch material concentrated in yellows to keep the mood in more cheery tones. Compositionally, I chose to have two vantage points that came together in another upward motion, symbolizing Peder transitioning between both worlds.

With leftover material, I created a third arrangement on the inside dessert table and helped by adding material around various places in the house that needed accents. Overall, everything went well, and my client was extremely pleased. He sent pictures and a really nice review, which are all included below.

The flowers were fabulous! On behalf of the Peder Bruce estate, we want to thank you for a PERFECT job. The “architecture” of your arrangements was a great touch for this event. Mr. Bruce I think would have been very pleased. Several people remarked about how perfect they were. Thanks again for doing such a great job. If I ever have need for a florist, scratch that, an artist in the future, I will certainly call on you. You really made the event. I have some pictures I will share with you… Thanks again!

~ Rhett A. and members from the Peder Bruce Estate

Material Used: Red Gladiolas, Yellow Eremurus, Yellow Regatta Chrysanthemums, Goldenrod, Horsetail, Steel Grass

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up your space – whether it’s in at home or your place of business. These would also be beautiful centerpiece options for any event: memorials, funerals, weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.

Dessert Table Centerpiece Arrangement for the Peder Bruce Memorial Event

Living Room Centerpiece Arrangement for the Peder Bruce Memorial Event

Food Table Centerpiece Arrangement for the Peder Bruce Memorial Event

]]> http://theflowersculptor.com/2012/08/19/rest-in-peace-peder-bruce/feed/ 0 http://theflowersculptor.com/2012/07/01/gingerly-gracefully-tranquility/ http://theflowersculptor.com/2012/07/01/gingerly-gracefully-tranquility/#comments Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:49:25 +0000 The Flower Sculptor http://theflowersculptor.com/?p=478

This was the first arrangement I created in my new studio space. Inspired by the amazing piece of driftwood, I knew whatever material I used had to have as much presence as the wood element. Otherwise, it would overpower anything else used. The bright color of the Ginger was just enough to create a striking focal point and take the spot light. In combination with the Coontie Fern leaves, there was just enough variety to create some interesting lines and details throughout. The curled leaf and other purple curly stems were incorporated to add a more whimsical flare. Just a culmination of various textures, lines, colors – all balanced in one unified arrangement.

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to any event: weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service. Whether it’s in at home for a dinner party or at your place of business. This will brighten up any space and command the center of attention – wherever it resides.

“Gingerly, Gracefully with Tranquility” – rustic with a modern simplicity and elegance ::: theflowersculptor.com/2012/07/01/gin…

— Shelli Wheeler (@FlowerSculptor) July 1, 2012

For her wedding, the bride chose a pink and green color palette for her flowers and all of the decorations. More specifically, she wanted everything to live in the Fuchsia and Chartreuse family. Also, knowing that the flowers were going to need to be shipped to another state, we needed to make sure whatever we chose would withstand the traveling. The other important component was the colors needed to have that sprightly and vibrant appeal. They needed to be as much of a modern accessory as they did a focal point for pictures.

So, once we narrowed down the material to the flowers and greenery, it was time to move onto the design process to see if they would actually work in the composition together. She had found a couple of designs she liked, but wasn’t able to really find anything that was exactly to her taste. However, I knew the main essentials of what she was wanting to see – a simple, modern, contemporary, sculptural, expressive, asymmetrical design. I sketched out a few ideas, and then started bringing those to life by constructing a couple of design options with real flowers and greenery. She loved them! The first corsage and boutonnière design was approved with no changes.

Early on, there was a special request made by the groom – that there be no pink flowers incorporated into the design of the boutonnières. With the design featuring only different shades of green, we needed to unify both of the designs together. To solve this, I chose a specific variety of Leucadendron leaves. These lime green leaves had a bright Fuchsia outline around them – which was just enough to add some interest while incorporating a small bit of pink in the composition. As a final design element, I wrapped a small band of pink wire on the stem of the boutonnières. Perfect!

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY WRIST CORSAGE AND BOUTONNIERE DESIGN
Green Cymbidium Orchids, pink Dendrobium Orchids, green Hypericum with mixed Greenery used as accents.

Perfect for any occasion where a corsage or boutonnière is needed: weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, graduation, dinner parties, galas or any other formal event.

Many thanks to Scott for taking these wonderful pictures –  W. Scott Chester Photography

Simple, sophisticated and unique design for your big day#modern #contemporary #weddingflowers #corsage #boutonniere bit.ly/NDNeT9

— Shelli Wheeler (@FlowerSculptor) June 18, 2012

The inspiration for this piece came from this incredible piece of driftwood, hence the title. With it placed horizontally, the natural lines create a graceful flow that starts with that magnificent Rhododendron. My client loves her arrangements in this spot. It’s the first thing she sees when she’s coming downstairs, and it’s the first thing she sees when she comes into the house from a long day at work. Since she does a lot of cooking and baking, she loves looking at the flowers while she’s in the room. For that reason, I make sure each arrangement is just as interesting from all sides… Just like a piece of sculpture.

HORIZONTAL IKEBANA ARRANGEMENT IN A MODERN, ASYMMETRICAL MORIBANA CONTAINER
Rhododendron Branches with purple Liatris and bright yellow Yarrow accents.

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up your space – whether it’s in at home or your place of business. This would also be a beautiful centerpiece for any event: weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.

In this arrangement I wanted to create elegance with a vertical composition to fit the space. Typically, I gravitate to using an asymmetrical composition – mainly because it is more unexpected and a greater challenge to create a balance. In this piece, there is a main focal point created from two different openings in the container. This is truly a mixture of using a the focal point of flowers and greenery to anchor your eye, while the Curly Willow was manipulated to create movement and extend the eye upward through the composition. The thin curvy lines in the Willow are used to contrast the heavy round leaves of the Ruscus greenery. Balance is also achieved by placing the height on the left and placing the focal point in the bottom right.

While I might have an idea of what I will be creating, most of my arrangements are composed on the spot. Since no two flowers are the same and since no two branches grow the same, it takes skill and patience to manipulate the material into the shapes and lines needed for each composition.

VERTICAL IKEBANA ARRANGEMENT IN A MODERN, ASYMMETRICAL NAGEIRE CONTAINER
Curly Willow Branches with Coral and Wine-colored Godetia Flowers and Green Ruscus Greenery.

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up your space – whether it’s in at home or your place of business. This would also be a beautiful centerpiece for any event: weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.

Most Japanese homes have these built-in recessed spaces which are designated for displaying various art forms in the home (such as Ikebana, Bonsai or other decorative elements). This room or alcove is called a tokonoma, or more simply as a toko. It’s located within the reception room where company resides when they visit. Interesting little fact to know… the correct etiquette is to seat the most important guest with his or her back facing the tokonoma. This is because it is imperative the host has modesty for his/her work, for it is not proper for the host to show off the contents of the tokonoma to the guest. Hence, the necessary seating arrangement…

In this instance, I created an arrangement that would be featured in a tokonoma. The style of these arrangements are supposed to be more formal and elegant – as they are the visual representation of your family and name to guests who visit your home. I used the Pieris branches and accentuated the curves to lead your eye up through the piece. The slight textured seeds in the branches added just enough interest, and they were pruned to create an overall poise and stature to each branch. The flowers chosen are brightly coral-colored Godetia which are carefully placed amongst the branches to provide depth and color accents throughout. These types of arrangements are supposed to be created in smaller containers and feature a simplistic approach, to show off  nature’s beauty in each element used.

FREESTYLE ARRANGEMENT CREATED FOR A TOKONOMA ALCOVE
Pieris Branches with Coral Godetia Flowers in an upright composition.

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up a dark or dull space – for an event or dinner table – or even on the front desk of a hotel or business office. Weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.

My client commissioned me to create an arrangement in their home for Rosh HaShana, so their family and friends could enjoy it over the holiday and into Yom Kippur. Since the circular shape symbolizes the continuation of life, I purposefully selected the container and flowers in order to maintain tradition, pay tribute and celebrate this tradition.

Material used: The bright green Podocarpus branches unify the two compositions into one with help of the bright, yellow Mums and radiant, purple Alliums.

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up a dark or dull space – for an event or dinner table – or even on the front desk of a hotel or business office. Weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.

This arrangement encompasses a more abstract and sculptural feel than perhaps some of my previous exhibit pieces. Using two containers, I knew I wanted to connect the two compositions together, literally, while encompassing an aquatic theme. Although this looks pretty simplistic, it took about two hours to create. The “how” is always a mystery to me when I begin the construction processs. How will it look in the end? How will I connect the two worlds together? Even if I sketch out a plan, nothing really works the way I envision it. Since every flower and each branch grows differently, there is enough variance to keep an element of surprise present at all times. There are certain things I can control… whether it’s vertical or horizontal. If I know I have a limited width or height… then I can stay within those certain parameters. Colors, textures, container styles – those things I can choose from when “planning” for an arrangement. However, in this piece, I knew I wanted the larger container to be the featured as a more dominant side, but in the end, the piece had to achieve balance and a good amount of movement within the composition to keep the viewer’s eye moving through the piece.

Materials used: Pink and red Cockscomb Celosia flowers with Papyrus Umbrella stems and Yellow Craspedia Drumsticks.

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up a dark or dull space – for an event or dinner table – or even on the front desk of a hotel or business office. Weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.

This is an exhibit arrangement I created for Japan Fest, a celebration of the Japanese culture in all of its forms, held once a year in Atlanta, GA. Thousands of people come out over the course of a weekend to really take in the sites and performances for this festival. I’ve been lucky enough to participate as an exhibitor each year since I started studying Ikebana in 2007. This particular arrangement features red and yellow variegated Tulips, a striking Manzanita branch to establish the lines and Azalea branches to soften the composition and add some green accents.

Perfect for: adding a striking centerpiece to brighten up a dark or dull space – on an event or dinner table – or even on the front desk of a hotel or business office. Weddings, bah mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, dinner parties, special events, corporate or residential service.