Ikebana Masterclass: Japanese Flower Arrangement

What you'll learn

Enter the stunningly serene world of Ikebana - the ancient art of Japanese flower arrangement - with our floristry short courses in Sydney!

Unleash your creativity and connect with the serenity of nature in our Ikebana Masterclass. Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of arranging flowers, transcends mere decoration and becomes a mindfulness practice through which you can relax and unwind.

In Japanese, 'Ike' means life, and 'Bana' means flower. This creative practice literally brings life to flowers, to create graceful 'living' decorations that celebrate the beauty of nature.

Ikebana techniques follow simple rules and principles. This workshop is designed to teach the authentic Ohara School Ikebana techniques, with their foundations in ancient Japanese art. 

Ohara-style Ikebana is unique in its emphasis on seasonal materials, working with the natural growth of plants and flowers, and honouring the beauty of natural environments. Your tutor is a highly qualified Ohara Ikebana teacher, who will customise the plants and flowers for the season. 

Join us for a meditative and peaceful experience that will renew your appreciation of the natural world. You'll also create your own elegant flower arrangements to take home with you.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Ikebana workshop, you should have learned:

• How to produce economical flower arrangements using only two or three flowers.
• How to use your arrangements to enhance or blend into your homes and surroundings.
• That each flower has a face, function and relationship to another flower.
• The correct choice of a vase or base for your arrangements.
• That Ikebana can be seen in the same light as painting or sculpturing, where you are constantly fine-tuning a single stem like a painter or sculptor is fine-tuning a part of his painting or sculpture.

Course content

What will be covered in this Japanese flower arrangement course?

• Introduction to Ikebana
• Explanation and demonstration of basic style and traditional style of arrangements which you will learn and practice during the course
• Demonstrate different styles and variations of arrangements, using the same flowers, stems and branches 
• Using the scissors – the correct way to trim branches, stems, and leaves
• Bending of branches
• Select flowers, branches, and stems for a particular arrangement
• Identify the correct vase or base that can be used with a particular arrangement
• Using the Kenzan
• Learn how to keep arrangements fresh for as long as possible
• Blend Ikebana to your surroundings or make it a focal point
• Identify focal points of your arrangement and position it

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What we provide

• A container for your flowers, leaves and branches
• A Kenzan (the base for your arrangement)
• Seasonal flowets
• Branches

What to bring to class

• Tablet OR Pen and notepad for taking notes
• Secateurs to cut branches
• A small towel and a bucket
• Please wear closed-in shoes
• You may like to wear an apron