Anthurium in a Kenzan
Oh, the beauty of anthuriums and tropical leaves -- best designed in a kenzan to let their sculptural beauty shine! In this Flower School How-To Video Leanne shares how to work with this classic Japanese design mechanic that is once-again on-trend. Enjoy!
Video Transcription
Design mechanics, evolving again, back to the past. Today, designing in a kenzan. Let me show you how. I like to start by building a bit of a nest. So looking at the dracena, determining what's its best angle. And then giving it a cut. I'm going to take off that lower leaf. I don't think I need it. And then anchoring it down into the pins, pushing securely so that it can stay in place. With the aspidistra, they're a little bit big, so taking a moment and rolling the ends, just like so. Then using a U-glue Dash, placing it on the inside of the leaf, pulling it off, and then securing it down gives you a little bit of a curvature. Then cutting, placing it, and repeating that. And then the monstera, looking at it for size. Hmm. Picking a smaller one. Placing it down low. Tucking it, and then taking another and terracing above. And continue that with foliage until you have a nice base to tuck in your blooms.
With just the foliage, it's already pretty. You can see the lines extending from a central binding point. Then I can go back and add in the blooms. Giving it a cut and placing it, making sure it's down well into the teeth. Then one a little shorter. Tucking it in, and then double checking your angles. With all the static lines in place, you could stop. But adding dynamic movement makes it so much prettier. Some lily grass. The blades are hard to work with into the pins, but if you tape it together so that you have a cluster, then give it a cut, and then put the entire cluster in at once. It will stay in the pins just perfectly. A little bit of curly willow to add some contrast at the top. And we get it cut. Finding the perfect spot. Letting it weave in, up and over and inserting it in place.
The recipe? Two beautiful anthurium, five strands of lily grass, three monstera leaves, two aspidistra, one dracena, and one bit of curly willow. All done in a single kenzan, three-inch size.
Yes, the kenzan, once a collector's edition, is now back on trend for designing every day. Yes, it's a little tricky. It takes some practice, but you can do that. Find a kenzan, old or new. Gather some flowers and design. Experience that again. Take a picture, post it on social media, And then hashtag Floral Design Institute, So we all could see what you do as you do something you love kenzan style.
