Beyond Beyond Well Being

Ikebana V.18 Dynamic and Complex

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:52:25 -0800

I don't particularly care for twisting branches away from their original shape, but the goal of this exercise was to create a circular movement, which I did by bending these willow branches. Overall, looks nice, I like it. Do you?

What I love about Santa Monica: Crop Circles

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:59:56 -0800

Finally! A MYSTERY. How that little gull was able to drag his little feet through the sand to arrive at this lovely pattern is beyond me. Perhaps the gull is actually an extraterritorial. That would explain things nicely.

The Anatomy of a Radio Commercial

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:28:24 -0800

Back when I was working on the airwaves, one of the sponsors requested that we make a "Making of the Louis Rich Turkey Bacon Spot" video. We thought that was a big effin hassle, but we did it anyway. What remains however is kind of fun to watch. Mostly as a sort of memory book of people I used to work with at Power 106 in Los Angeles.

What I love about Santa Monica: Gulls and Choppers

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:08:48 -0800

Just a gull and a chopper, and a sunset. And some reverie.

What I love about Venice Beach: Ungraffitiable Signage

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:54:40 -0800

So, there are some structures at Venice beach where spray painters (graffiti artists) are legally allowed to do their thing. There was a long time in which no permit was required, then that changed. So, they put up a sign saying that you need a permit to paint on the provided walls. Thing is, the sign itself would naturally be a target for graffiti and it wouldn't take long for taggers to completely cover up the message. So, the friendly folks at Venice Beach did something really smart. The words on the sign pictured above are actually cut-outs. It is impossible to paint over this message. Although that didn't stop someone from painting the sign the same color as the surrounding sand rendering it almost invisible. For more, see: VeniceArtWalls.com

What I love about Santa Monica: Angry Sunsets

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:49:16 -0800

Just a sunset with a coming storm, which ended up loudly drizzling on Santa Monica for about three minutes and that was it for us.

Ikebana V.17 Corny as Kansas in August

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:29:59 -0800

Nice arrangement featuring some late-summer, harvest season, thanksgiving, Sukkot stuff. Those are real peppers, though they're considered ornamental rather than culinary.

Ikebana V.16 Gladiolas, not Sadiolas

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:36:45 -0800

The piece above was the class project. This is one of the few Nageire (vertical) format arrangements that I've felt good about. Finally got my little spiral mirror candle holder into one of the shots. Some unused flowers from today's class allowed me to really work with the shape of the rosemary. I deviated somewhat from the traditional arrangements here. I'm sure you'll find a way to cope.

Ikebana V.15 Virgo

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:18:44 -0800

These longer pieces are some sort of grain, like a wheat. The Virgin is associated with the late summer, early autumn as the grains are harvested. Oh, this ikebana actually uses two kenzans, a first for me. The cluster on the right is not attached to the same base as the taller one on the left.

Ikebanas at Japanese American National Museum

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:02:58 -0800

The Los Angeles chapter of the Sogestu Ikebana school put together this show which was inexplicably absent at the JANM's website. Shame on them for not publicizing this, but kudos for hosting it. Yin and yang. :) The piece pictured above was my favorite at the show. Couldn't have been easy to get that tire all twisted up like that.

The above ikebana was actually attached to a larger pyramid below, for which you can only see the tip. Notice too, the taller piece in the background. There were quite a few of these size works. They rarely relied solely on fresh flowers, though.

If I named this piece, I'd call it the Dagwood. Probably too old of a reference, though. This was actually one of three stacks that were all positioned together. A stunning example of creativity that was the hallmark of this show. Quite amazing, really.

Ikebana V.14 Split 'n Curl

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:57:54 -0800

These longer parts where split down the middle and then curled under to create that bend toward the ends. Nice effect, really. Picture shot in the classroom of the art building at Santa Monica College.

Why I love Santa Monica: Kite Tourists

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:52:18 -0800

They come from everywhere to enjoy the sunshine and sea breeze. Kites from every race, creed, and color come to wave in the wind at Santa Monica. A close-up of some of the kites in the air. They're located just south of a California historical marker that points out the location of the formally-named "Ink Well" which was the segregated location of the beach where blacks were allowed to swim. All of this is about a mile south of the pier.

Ikebana V.13 Nageire

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:46:41 -0800

A fragrant upright (nageire) style Ikebana.

Ikebana V.12 Crunchberries

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:59:14 -0800

Still wrestling with filling in the negative space and maintaining the tension in the composition.

Ikebana V.11 Going Rogue

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:39:24 -0800

It's nice to have three different types of material to work with. The tall stuff, the blooms, and the filler. However, I tend not to purchase filler as bringing home flowers on my bike favors economy. With that in mind, I decided to go rogue like Sara Palin. No more trying to fit into the rigid aesthetic of the Japanese. Decided to just use two different materials and see what came of it. I can see where this could have been improved by simplifying the purple material. It's trying to go to the sides, I could've used less in the middle to bring out the left-right axis of its nature. Still working on developing an eye for this. The camera helps brings it out too.