Hello all,
My arrangement, above, began with my newly acquired, ceramic container with a metallic patina. I had the piece of dried agave for, literally, years and the one that is partially dry for about one year. I thought the colour of the agaves toned in well with the colour of the container and I liked the contrast of the dry, shrivelled material against the shiny surface of the container.
Initially, I did not want to add any other material. However, I wanted to see what it would look like with a flower and I tried a number of positions. When I placed it high, in front of the agaves, it interfered with the design, so I moved it into the cavity created by the green agave. This way it is partially concealed and does not dominate. Still, personally, I prefer the arrangement without the flower.
The class theme this week was from Book 4 - 'Paying attention to the container and to the place where the arrangement will be put'. This is, actually, a very important lesson, the principles of which apply to every single arrangement we make.
I had designated a place in my home for each student so they had to prepare for an arrangement that would fit the space allocated.
I had to photograph Jenny's arrangement first n its own as it did not photograph well in situ and then placed it on the glass, coffee table in the family room. She chose colours carefully wanting to tone in with the wall hangings and the timber floor boards, which are clearly visible through the glass. She used hydrangeas and willow in a deep, ceramic suiban.
I had to do the same with Vicky's arrangement. Her spot was particularly difficult because it has a window with reflections on one side and a silk screen on the other. She used a large piece of painted wisteria, pineapple lilies and arum italicum pictum berries.
Nicole and Bredenia were allocated the same spot - a plinth under the curve of the staircase. This was not a problem because they come to class at different times.
Nicole used tortuous willow branches sweeping upwards, following the line of the staircase. The colour of the willow in the photograph is deceptive as it reflects the light. It is, actually, the natural, olive green colour of willow. The fennel, however, picks up the colour of the staircase, as does the ceramic container.
Bredenia used a ceramic vase that sweeps upwards following the curve of the stair. She used fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' and greeny/yellow kangaroo paws, Anigozanthos (possibly) Yellow Jem.
Lucy was allocated the large dining table which measures 3 metres in length. This was not to be a table arrangement where there would guests sitting around the table, so she could go to town with it. She used two ceramic containers of different sizes and the largest gymea leaves she could get from my garden. She secured the leaves horizontally along he length of the table and dded 5 blue agapanthus flowers. Photographing it was a challenge!
By coincidence, Lei's curriculum lesson was the same as the advanced students. Her allocated spot was the meals area table, which is a type of frosted glass. The colour of the wall along the staircase leading to the laundry is a type of chartreuse, which Lei's materials picked up very well. She used agapanthus flower stems with the seeds removed and variegated New Zealand flax leaf. Her yellow, modern container fitted in nicely.
Shaneen's curriculum lesson was 'Jumonji-dome' (cross bar fixture). She created a horizontal arrangement using coprosma branches and roses in a dark brown, ceramic vase. Shaneen was aware that she needed to thin out the leaves of the coprosma but time was limited.
Dianne's lesson was 'Composition of Straight lines'. She used leek flowers with long stems, creating the straight lines. Th flower heads toned in well with her soft pink coloured roses.
Mary's lesson was 'Arrangement with plants on a wall'. She used aspidistra leaves, as they can survive well without water, as do the crocosmia inflorescences. The hydrangea stems were in water vials, which were well hidden.
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