Thursday Art Date With Rain -- "Minimalism"

I've always been drawn to the minimalist aesthetic 

found in classic Japanese art, poetry and philosophy 

with its spirit of simplicity and belief that "less is more."

The Japanese art of ikebana (flower arranging)

particularly embodies these ideals, expressed

not only through limited use of flowers

and greenery, but also in the asymmetry 

of their arrangement, direction and height.

So for Rain's Art Date theme this week,

I have tried my inexpert hand at creating

three ikebana arrangements, which I

photographed beside some souvenir trinkets

brought back from our trip to Japan in 2012.

(1) Gladiolus with two 

modified gladiolus leaves 

and a maneki-neko (beckoning cat):

(2) Iris with a modified weed 

from my back alley 

and a cat coaster:

(3) Star of Bethlehem with 

modified pine and juniper fronds 

and a fish kites banner:

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, August 2021]