Hitomi’s Week Two SHAPE + FORM Study Notes

‘A FRESH LOOK AT SHAPE & FORM’ (Week Two)

compiled by Hitomi Gilliam

Companion text to Hitomi’s second Mentor Session, which can be watched via the following link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iwrT3RI-tA

My Add-on References:

            Rikka – The Soul of Japanese Flower Arrangement (1976) by Fujiwara Yuchiku, Translated by Norman Sparnon

            IKEBANA – Spirit & Technique (1980) by Shusui Komoda and Horst Pointner

IN REVIEW…. of the first set of shapes explored

Study of Circles            

• Geometry made up of curving lines, ARCS

• Continuous fluid lines

• Can shift in direction smoothly

• Emphasis on soft

• CIRCULAR INSPIRATION with emphasis on similarities

IN PREVIEW…. of the next set of shapes to explore

Study of Angles            

• Geometry made of straight lines changing direction abruptly

• Disruptive lines

• Emphasis on hard and sharp

• ANGULAR INSPIRATION with emphasis on differences

• Angles are pointed – have distinct direction and force

ANGULAR SHAPES:     TRIANGLE, SQUARE, RECTANGLE, PYRAMID, CUBE…

• 2D Shapes/Silhouettes

• 3D Forms/Complete figure

1.1      FLOWER FORM (SHAPE) ANGULAR

Physiology of petals, buds, foliage, stem

• Clematis has pointed petals – more angular

• Clematis has pointed buds – more angular

• Strelitzia bloom… petals and total form shape is very angular, a collection of triangles

• Ornithogalum inflorescence with its very pointed bud at the top appears triangular, conical

• In 2D, a triangle              In 3D a cone, a rounded triangle

• Alocasia leaf (especially ‘Polly’ variety) appears 2D and its silhouette is pointed & triangular

• Oxalis leaflet is triangular shape (2D)

• Heliconia bracts individually are scalene triangles, combined into a whole silhouette= triangle

• Pandanus when cut straight across its width, makes a long isosceles triangle

• Leather Fern with its leaflets when pressed flat (2D) is triangular=similar to side profile of tree

• Pandanus vine flower (Freycinetia excelsia) is triangular overhead shape

• 3 petalled flower – triangular

  • Trillium grandiflora

  • Tradescantia occidentalis

  • Tigridia

• 3 sided stem – triangular core

  • Carex utriculats – Sedge within the Cyperaceae family

  • Schlumbergera cactus and Euphorbia

1.2      DESIGN SHAPE (GEOMETRIC DESIGN FORM or Silhouette)

ANGULAR SHAPES

• TRIANGLE and Variations

• SQUARE and Variations

• Every other multiple sided shape are made up of triangles

• Even a piece of pie or pizza is a triangle with one rounded side.

• The CUT makes it a man-made shape

• OPEN FORM

• CLOSED FORM

1.4      ART & FLOWERS

Painting is an art form based on application of pigment on canvas

FRAMED in a rectangle shape and exhibited made it extra important.

This was my early impression on the power of Framing… square/rectangle surrounding a composition brought extra interest to what was within.

Also creating a sculpture (3D structure) as a start to flowering….  approach the structure building as

‘build the Art’.  Make this the Reusable containter/structure to keep for its artistic value, to Reduce the amount of materials that go to the landfill, and to Reduce the making of the same structure again.

Why did I start in floristry as a minimalist?

I am of Japanese heritage, with Japanese aesthetics ‘Less is More’ thinking.

Its not about the decorative volume of flowers….. that is a Western concept.

‘You can tell the direction of the wind with one blade of grass’

Or here is a haiku with a different perspective…

When I lie in the grass

near Musashi

The tiny flower

seems larger than Fuji

1.5       IKEBANA – Ikebana Triangle

There are 3 basic components or insertions in an Ikebana design discipline – 3 levels of existence

1. SHIN            Heaven          highest point

2. SOE             Man             mid-level existence

3. HIKAE           Earth            lowest level in respect to the planet

Man must live in harmony between the given 2 bodies.

Must stay in balance, and not overtake

They represent the 3 levels (lengths of stems and direction) within an Ikebana design

Depending on the specific school of Ikebana, either Heaven is most important, or Man

The source of inspiration is dictated by the medium used (botanicals) and its placement is NATURE generated. The better trained your hands are to respond to the need of the botanicals and its ability to show its beauty, or its flaws – it is by nature’s design.  Nature dictates whether the design speaks the truth or false.  Nature’s Law – Principles of Design.

With 3 RADIAL linear stem insertions from binding point (KENZAN OR KUBARI)

Creates a 3 point design (open form)

Creates 3D spatial design adding dimension (depth) and volume to the design.

Overhead view creates an implied triangular positioning (3D dimension), a microcosm.

There are different direction or proportions to configure different balancing act.

• Upward/Vertical

• Horizontal/Diagonal

• Downward/Cascading

The balance act is relative to the binding point (kenzan) in relation to the container.

It is a triangle on point…. Different from a lazy triangle resting on its side.

It is far more dynamic emerging from the point, like a ballerina on her toe.

There’s elegance by its precariousness… yet it is the point of growth as in a growing plant – radially designed.

1.7      WESTERN LINE TRIANGULAR DESIGN

It’s the typical Triangle Design which is taught in North America and elsewhere where it has popularized.

It is a lazily positioned triangle….. meaning it rests on one of its 3 sides.  It is static.

The shaping of a traditional Triangular Design is totally man-made shape.

It is totally a decorative design in that every stem insertion is made to MAKE the Shape.

The length of the stems are dependent on creating the contour of the shape… made to fit.

It is a contrived design of man’s choosing.  Un-Natural.

•             Equilateral

•             Right Angle

•             Isosceles

•             Scalene

It is as man-made as trimming the boxwood hedge into a perfect rectangle.

Upon quick glance…. It is a rectangle shape

Upon further inspection… it is cubic

As is with triangle….

It is made into the triangle shape…. by establishing the vertical axis and radiating away from it in creating the perfect trimmed shape.

The back wall stays more or less flat and is not the viewed side.

The front side may have some depth as it builds down and out in a slight slope, but overall, it tends to be flatter than volumetric.

It is a design perfect to be placed on a ledge.

The FAN design is a perfect example of flat profile design, almost 2D in shape.

The triangle design can often be closer to 2D than 3D….  taking the living out of the flowers.

1.6      Physiology or the Mechanics of Construction

It takes 3 legs to make a table stand up.

The 4th leg is just extra support, or insurance.

Canopy of trees are supported by multitude of crossing lines – which makes angles, you see a lot of triangles.

Cross braces to strengthen a rectangle….makes 4 triangles, makes it rigid and stronger

The flat roof does not cave in if there are cross beams which are cross-hatched to make them stronger, each one of them.

Best building blocks breaks down to TRIANGLES. Triangles do not break down.

Every round shape can be broken down into angular graphics… like origami.

Points become the convergence of lines (fold) so they become the support point (of strength).

The hard graphics of angles and angular shapes become the support structure of a design…. or the armature.  Hard graphics is math, the multiple sided shapes, like pentagon, hexagon, octagon are all made up of triangles and are the building blocks of science and mathematical calculations…by Nature’s design.

BUILDING WITH TRIANGLES…. Your Reusable Building Components for Design Structure.
REPETITION OF TRIANGULAR FORM for building Sculptural Form to Flower.

Another option to Sustainable Mechanics…. to add to Chickenwire forms

Or combine the two to support the weight of water in the tubes.

Static Triangular Structure – building on its side – bring the weight of the design to rest

Dynamic Triangular Structure – building on its point – bring the weight of the design in balance

IN SUMMARY….  In comparison…… about varying degree of CONTRAST

From opposition, difference to similarity