Keiko's ikebana: a contemporary approach to the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging

133 Pages·2007·91.447 MB·English

by  Kubo, Keiko

I K
A Contemporary Approach
to the Traditional Japanese Art of
Flower Arranging
Keiko Kub o
TUTTLE PUBLI SHIN G
Tokyo • Rutland, Vermont • Singapore
Published by Tuttle Publishing
an imprint of Peri plus Editions (HK) Ltd.,
www.tuttlepublishing.com
Copyright © 2006 Keiko Kubo
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or uti-
lized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including pho-
tocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without prior written permission from the publisher.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Kubo, Keiko, 1962-
Keiko's ikebana I Keiko Kubo.- 1st. ed.
p.cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8048-3792-7 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-8048-3792-9 (hardcover)
1. Flower arrangement, Japanese. I. Title.
SB450.K75 2005
745.92'252-dc22 2004024687
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Acknowledgments
First, I would like to express my appreciation to Jennifer Brown at Tuttle Publishing for giving
me this special opportunity.
I would also like to extend my warmest thanks to the people who helped me complete this
project, especially: photographer Erich Schrempp, of Schrempp Studio, who took the wonder-
ful photos featured here; Anjeli Flowers, 7643 W. Belmont, Elmwood Park, IL, [phone];
and Edward Campbell, for his assistance with writing in English and revising my manuscript.
-KEIKO Kuso
A project like Keiko's Ikebana requires that the composition and lighting be approached as sim-
ply and subtly as possible, allowing the arrangements to stand on the page without distraction.
Light is a tool that is most powerful when it's wielded with the gentlest touch. You can't
improve on a flower, but you can wrap it in light in such a way that it becomes almost lumi-
nous. That's what I set out to do in Keiko's Ikebana.
- ERICH SCHREMPP
Contents
Acknowledgments v
Introduction 1
About Ikebana
The History of Ikebana 2
Ikebana Today 5
Keiko's Approach 7
Chapter 1: Ikebana Basics 9
Containers 9
Container Ideas 11
Ikebana Tools and Materials 13
Ikebana Techniques 16
Cutting 18
Supporting Techniques 22
Helpful Hints 25
Chapter 2: Design Principles 29
Line 30
Volume (Mass and Depth) 34
Accent 35
Other Elements of Design 36
Considering Plant Materials 43
The Process of Making Ikebana 44
Moribana Style 45
Nageire Style 48
Chapter 3: Inspiration 53
Keiko's Ikebana Gallery 54
Chapter 4: 20 Step·by·Step Arrangements 67
Natural-Line Arrangement 68
Curved-Line Arrangement 70
Vertical-Line Arrangement 72
Horizontal-Line Arrangement 74
Geometric-Line Arrangement/Triangular Lines 76
Manipulated-Line Arrangement 78
Sequential Vases 80
Glass Container Arrangement 82
Using Floral Tubes for the Mechanics 84
The Basket Container 86
Pruning Design 88
Stacking Design 90
Twisting Design 92
Shredding Design 94
Tying Design 96
Cupped Design 98
Three Basic Ikebana Techniques 100
Rolled Design in a Basin 102
Using Artificial Materials 104
Floating Flowers in a Basin 106
Glossary 108
Resources 110
Index 116
About the Author 119