Key Points of the Upright Style in Ikebana

Ikebana upright

Selecting the Right Materials

Tips for an Impressive Upright form

Enhancing a Simple Design

  The beauty of Ikebana’s upright form lies in its simplicity and elegant strength. With its clean form, the flowers take centre stage, allowing their natural charm to shine. This style offers a sense of stability and a calm, composed presence, creating a balanced and grounded expression.

However, achieving an striking design in the upright style comes with its challenges. The simplicity of the form means that even slight imbalances can stand out. It requires careful attention to balance, proportion, and space, all while finding subtle ways to express the individuality of the materials.

In this guide, Key Points of the Upright Style in Ikebana, we’ll explore the essential elements and techniques that help bring this timeless style to life.

  Selecting the Right Materials

The first step in creating an upright style ikebana is to carefully assess the characteristics of the materials to determine if they suit the form. Amaryllis is an excellent choice for the upright style due to its straight, thick stem and large blooms that radiate outward. Compared to similar Oriental lilies, amaryllis offers greater stability and a more pronounced linear quality, making it particularly well-suited for upright designs.

  Flowers Used : Amaryllis, Ginger ( Bee hive ), Mokara Orchid, Gymea leaf Monstera, Xanadu

  Tips for an Impressive Upright Form

Creating a striking upright form requires technical skill and careful adjustments. Here are some key tips to help you perfect this design.

1. Building Height and Structure

When the main flower is shorter than the ideal height, introduce taller materials—such as Gymea leaves—to add height and create a more dynamic composition. The tallest material will act as the structural backbone, setting the overall size and guiding the flow of the design.

Using just one stem may appear weak or lacking impact, so it’s essential to include two key lines:

• Main Stem (Shin): Forms the central vertical line and gives the arrangement its strongest impression.

• Supporting Stem (Soe): Enhances the main stem, adding balance and depth to the design.

2. Adjusting Width and Proportion

When using leaves that are too wide, the vertical emphasis can be lost, causing the design to feel unbalanced. To maintain the upright style’s integrity, try these techniques:

• Trim the leaf width to create a slimmer and more elegant shape.

• Adjust the angle of the leaves to make them appear longer and more refined.

Tip: Even when materials are the same height, their width can make them appear shorter or longer. Regular adjustments are key to achieving the perfect balance.

  Enhancing a Simple Design

A simple upright design can sometimes feel monotonous when using only vertical materials. To avoid this, add contrast with elements like anthurium leaves to highlight the height and enhance the overall impression.

When adding these elements, be mindful of the overall width. Expanding the design too much can lessen the focus on height, resulting in a composition that lacks tension and clarity. To maintain the character of the upright style, keep a clean and intentional outline.

To achieve a clean, finished look, consider placing small flowers or a leaf as Nejime. This technique not only reinforces the height but also hides overlapping stems, resulting in a more polished appearance.

Upright ikebana emphasises height and balance, creating a strong yet elegant composition that highlights the natural beauty of vertical lines.

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