Contrasting Styles & a Bonsai that is Different from most of the Trees You See

Bonsai by Minh Hanh. I won’t bother to guess the variety. I know comparisons can be odious, but sometime contrasting things (bonsai in this case), without relying too much on value judgements, can help us see more clearly. In the 1980s Masahiko Kimura broke bonsai tradition with his outrageously sculptural deadwood that he carved with power tools. Looking back though, you can still see the influence of the Japanese bonsai aesthetic in everything he did. Continued below… SITE WIDE SALE Everything at Stone Lantern now 20% to 25% off* Including our NEW 2017 Calendars time to save and avoid mall … Continue reading Contrasting Styles & a Bonsai that is Different from most of the Trees You See

Strong, Wild and Full of Character

There’s a lot to like here. First, there’s some of that same funky (in the good sense) quality that you see in the feature tree in the previous post. Both are strong, wild and full of character. In this case so strong and clearly defined that the background noise doesn’t distract all that much. All the photos in this post are from Bonsai Quinn. Our last post featured a couple Penjing plantings so we’ll stay on topic. All the photos shown here are from a newly discovered blog (for me at least) called Bonsai Quinn. The man behind the blog … Continue reading Strong, Wild and Full of Character

Penjing Vs Bonsai

Robert Steven’s simulation of a Japanese black pine that was submitted by Mike Liu (Mike’s original is below). Still out of town and still digging deep into our archives. This one is from almost three years ago (December 2010). It’s original title is: Robert Steven Critiques a Black Pine and Offers Some Insights into the Five Schools of Penjing. It’s one of many brilliant Robert Steven critiques, though, aside from starting with such a well developed tree, what sets it apart is Robert’s discussion of the five schools of Chinese Penjing. As you may know, Robert is a world famous … Continue reading Penjing Vs Bonsai

Penjing & Bonsai: The Original Creators

A magical Chinese elm penjing by Wang Huaishun. Did this creative landscape, and others like it, influence some of Kimura’s more daring innovations? Robert Steven’s too? From Bonsai Today issue 98. Submitted by Karin Albert. Penjing in three parts The Penjing above is the lead photo in a wonderful (and very well received) in-depth article entitled, Penjing: A Chinese Renaissance by Karin Albert, that appear in Bonsai Today issues 98, 101 and 102. Following the buzz There’s been a lot of buzz from Robert’s last critique a few posts back: Robert Steven Critiques a Black Pine and Offers Some Insights … Continue reading Penjing & Bonsai: The Original Creators

A Sculptural Elm: Definitely Not Japanese

I’m guessing this impressive tree is a Chinese elm. Whatever it is, it displays much of what you’d look for in a bonsai: power, refinement, balance, excellent ramification, attractive pot, even some imperfection. I’d also venture that it’s definitely not Japanese. It’s from Rawe Laranta Ramook Bonsai. It’s Penjing, but is it Chinese? A couple posts ago Robert Steven offered us a lesson in the five schools of Chinese Penjing. I’m pretty sure Robert would include this tree in that vast and varied grouping, even if it’s not from China (I don’t know where it’s from). Though Robert (and others) … Continue reading A Sculptural Elm: Definitely Not Japanese