Tangling inspired by Sogetsu Ikebana
One of my students challenged me to create a tangled piece using concept of Sogetsu, a line of Japanese Ikebana flower arrangement. Traditional Ikebana is many centuries old, has many different lines and Sogetsu is one of the more modernized, freeform styles.
Even though it is more free form and accessible, Sogetsu still follows some very interesting Ikebana parameters where flowers and branches are placed at angles to each other, and the length of the branches and stems are cut at specific proportions in relation to each component. A very interesting, almost minimalist approach that encourages the use of diagonal lines, triangular layouts, odd numbers and negative space.
Above you can see the work in progress — and since I'm in the middle of teaching the Single Pen Hatching class, I used only hatched textures and shading treatment on this one. Tangles used were: organicized Zander for the taller branches, Flux for the small leaves, Echoism and toodles for the lower components (All tangles by Zentangle). Below is the final picture again:
Feel free to pin or share these pictures if you like.
The beautifully poetic class Duotone Tangling is now available in video format for individual purchase. This video class includes how to use a “landscape string” and how to create contrast using two inking pens of different colors. It also shows how to use grafting and how to organicize tangles to make them resemble plants.