Eccentric Bonsai: Too Strange, or Just Strange Enough?

Strange as this old tree is, it all works together with a blend of eccentricity and balance (and remarkable ramification*). This photo and the others in this post are from Peter Tea Bonsai Way back in 2009 and early 2010 we ran a series of posts that we called Eccentric Bonsai. Maybe it’s time to resurrect the series. If so, this one-of-a-kind Trident maple seems like a good place to start. We originally posted this tree in December, 2011. It was borrowed from Peter Tea’s blog. Peter was an apprentice at Mr. Junichiro Tanaka’s Aichi-en bonsai nursery at the time. Peter takes good photos and writes of his experience … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai: Too Strange, or Just Strange Enough?

Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design: WebBook by Andy Rutledge

This distinctive Japanese red pine appears in Andy Rutledge’s web book ‘Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design.’ The original image (left) came from a back issue of Bonsai Today magazine. The black lines on the right hand image were drawn by Andy to illustrate how “the smooth but erratic curves of the trunk are carried over into the branching.” Take a look – it’s worth it Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design provides a wealth of material for anyone who wants to take their bonsai to the next level. Andy Rutledge approaches bonsai with respect for the depth and breath of the … Continue reading Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design: WebBook by Andy Rutledge