MASTERCLASS #31

 

Hello all,

At our recent Masterclass I provided each student with two large pieces of fresh bamboo canes with leaves, as well as some leucadendrons.

The arrangement, above, simple as it looks, took me hours to construct. I tried many different mechanics to balance the top heavy materials before I, finally, managed it. I considered adding some leucadendrons but they didn't work. I feel the bamboo can stand alone.

Fine bamboo canes are wedged into a piece of

                                  bamboo onto which I attached a horizon fixture using a screw

Everyone else, also, struggled with their arrangement but it was a good struggle. It was a good learning exercise and in the end we were all happy with our results.

In Christine's arrangement, below, the bamboo is worked through the split in the container as well as around it.

Lei used a container with a narrow neck, ideal for holding up the bamboo, from which she suspended more pieces. creating lines and movement. 

Vicky went naturalistic and tall. The container she chose was glass, inside which she secured the bamboo. The leucadendron flowers were massed low at the rim. She used dowels to attach the two pieces of bamboo together.

Cymbie chose a bamboo container and created thin and thick lines with the fresh bamboo canes. A small number of leucadendron flowers created the mass.

Lucy, quite uncharacteristically, chose a small, ceramic container and created a dynamic design with the bamboo canes.

For my part, with the left over bamboo pieces, I made a second arrangement, this time using some fine canes with leaves. 

And here's a little tip on how to keep the bamboo leaves from drying. As soon as possible after being cut, the bamboo stem should be placed in a small container with salted boiling water and left there for 10 minutes or so. It can then be placed in the arrangement with clean water. t's been over a week since I made the arrangement and the leaves are still fresh.

Bye for now,

Emily