Ikebana, also known as Japanese flower arranging, is both an ancient and modern three-dimensional art. The first ikebana school was founded in the 1500s but traces its roots to 621 A.D. As years have passed, many ikebana schools have been established, but all ikebana, whether classical or modern, is based on a deep awareness of nature and the relationship between man and nature. Successful ikebana is based on strong esthetic principles such as form, balance, harmony, variety and unity, line, mass, space, color and texture.
The Sogetsu School of Ikebana was founded in Tokyo in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara, who believed that ikebana should be practiced as a modern creative art form, part of a lifestyle that can be appreciated the world over. A basic Sogetsu philosophy is that ikebana can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, at any time, using any available plant materials. Techniques of ikebana are taught by certified instructors using textbooks written in English and Japanese. Basic styles of moribana (shallow container) and nageire (tall container) are studied, followed by free style themes. Because each person is unique, the Sogetsu School encourages students to be individual and imaginative.
About the Instructor
My name is Diane Elliott.
I began my study of Sogetsu ikebana in 1991, in the middle of my career as a fisheries research scientist. When I realized that ikebana would enable me to combine my interests in gardening and art, i was “hooked for life.” I received my first teacher’s certificate from the Sogetsu School in 1995 and earned the highest teaching diploma (Riji) awarded by the school in 2014. I have been an active member of Ikebana International Seattle Chapter 19 since 1992 and am the current director of the Sogetsu School Seattle Branch. I regularly participate in ikebana exhibitions and have presented ikebana demonstrations and workshops for a variety of groups. I currently teach ikebana classes in my Kirkland, Washington home studio, and also teach classes for teens and adults at a local in-patient mental health facility as part of their mindfulness program. I instruct using the Sogetsu School textbooks but encourage students to express their own personalities within the guidelines for the lesson or theme being studied. The study of ikebana can be a life-enriching experience, and I have found that spreading the beauty and creativity of ikebana through teaching, exhibiting, and demonstrating this wonderful art is very rewarding.
