More Great Art from Our National Museum

115 years in training! This dignified old Zelkova serrata lives at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. It was donated by Yoshibumi Itoigawa and has been in training since 1895. Autumn Arts of Nature The photos in this post are from last year’s Autumn Arts of Nature exhibition at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington DC. A bright autumn moon – in the shade of each grass blade a cricket chirping Yosa Buson (1716-83) Sotdae. Kusamono: Pygmy bamboo (Pleioblastus pygmaeus) & Wild Ducks. Artwork created by Sam-Kyun Yoon. Inspired by a traditional Korean folk art called sotdae. Placing … Continue reading More Great Art from Our National Museum

Another Bonsai Drawing by Patrick Giacobbe

If you paid attention to our recent Bonsai Art Contest, you’ll remember that Patrick Giacobbe won first prize with his Graphite on Bristol board drawing. Here’s another Graphite on Bristol board drawing that Patrick submitted (we only accepted one entry per person, which explains why you didn’t see this then). Stay tuned for our next contest We’re going to start a bonsai art photography contest soon. We’ll be looking for artistic photos of bonsai or of trees in nature. Stay tuned for details.

Contest: Mystery Penjing

I found this near perfect penjing stuck in a file on somewhere on my computer. Unfortunately, I neglected to label it, and, like so many other things stuck in files in hidden corners, I don’t remember where it came from. I do know that it’s a Trident maple and I could make a guess on its location and who planted it, but maybe it’s more interesting to give you a chance. Win a $25.00 gift certificate The first person to properly identify the artist and the current location of this powerful penjing planting will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to … Continue reading Contest: Mystery Penjing

Accent Plants!

Ajuga, fern, sedum. Artist and potter unknown. Bonsai Tonight and the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show I found these sweet little accents on Bonsai Tonight. They are from the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show. Unfortunately, no artist’s or potter’s names are listed. Can anyone out there offer any help? I like this earthy, uniquely shaped hand made pot. Anybody know who made it and who did the planting?

Kokufu Bonsai-Ten: Still the Best

Kokufu Prize, 2010: Informal upright style Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergi). Borrowed from Phoenix Bonsai. Delusional state? To be sure, people from around the world are growing and displaying some wonderful, eye-popping bonsai. Still, from where I sit, and in spite of rumors to the contrary, it’s hats off to the Japanese when it comes to world class bonsai. If you don’t believe me, check out any Kokufu exhibit. If you still don’t believe me, then there’s nothing I can do for you. You’ll simply have to suffer in your delusional state. Or maybe visit your opthamologist (disclaimer: there’s nothing … Continue reading Kokufu Bonsai-Ten: Still the Best

Judging Judges

Traveling again and haven’t gotten around to reviewing all the judge’s comments. Soon. Meanwhile, stay posted.

Eccentric Bonsai: A Very Unusual Satsuki

What a strange and compelling tree! The trunk is massive from left to right, but looks like it might be somewhat flat from front to back, though it’s hard to tell from this angle. The branching is undefined (partially caused by the way the foliage and flowers are growing in the crotches) and unbalanced in a way that might make you wonder if someone was drunk or if there was some sort of pruning accident (no insult intended; just felt like saying something provocative). Still, there is something dynamic and compelling about this tree, at least compelling enough to motivate … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai: A Very Unusual Satsuki

Sales: Books, Netsuke, Kenzans

Don’t wait! Our book sale ends on Monday the 29th. 30% off Netsuke end tomorrow (Thursday the 25th). 30% off Kenzan sale has no ending date yet, but don’t wait too long. What’s with netsukes and kenzans on a bonsai blog and website? Good question (if I say so myself). Though bonsai is our primary passion and business, we’ve long had an interest in Japanese horticultural arts (thus Ikebana books, kenzans and tools and Japanese gardening books and tools). And to some extent, Japanese arts in general (thus the netsukes). So now that I’ve answered my own question, anything else … Continue reading Sales: Books, Netsuke, Kenzans

Two Tricks With Wire

Too long and too straight. We all know you can add curves to a branch that is too straight, but did you know that you can also use wire to shorten a branch that is too long? Much better. Now it’s much shorter and much more interesting.

Bonsai Art Contest: Plenty of Winners

The winner. Patrick Giacobbe’s Bonsai Design. Graphite on Bristol board. A closely bunched field (with one exception) First place was no contest; Patrick won going away with 73 points. After that, things got much tighter. Second place (see below) received 34 points, and third was a two way tie with 27 points each. How the judges voted Altogether thirty one people decided to judge. Each judge assigned nine points. This means there were 279 total points assigned. If you do the math you’ll see that those who didn’t finish in the money received 118 points. Put another way, everyone was … Continue reading Bonsai Art Contest: Plenty of Winners