This colorful succulent growing in a rock is by Peter Landerloos. It’s from Bonsai Cafe.
Bonsai Cafe
I lifted the photos in this post from Bonsai Cafe. It features some pretty good bonsai from Western bonsai artists. Definitely worth a visit if you get a chance.
It’s not very often you see a bonsai this size with such a massive trunk. It’s by Colin Lewis. Colin lives and runs his bonsai business (Colin Lewis Bonsai Art and Ho Yoku School of Bonsai) right here in New England.
I think this sweet little Shohin might be a Needle juniper. It’s by Jos Vandeborne.
This snakey cascade by Roman Martyka could easily qualify for one of our Eccentric bonsai posts.
Pirates
At least one blog has been pirating our posts, lock stock and barrel; but without our links and without any attribution to bonsai bark, or Stone Lantern. If you are reading this on any website or blog that is not ours, and is not attributed to us, then it has been pirated. Please visit us at bonsaibark.com. Thank you.
This little gem was lifted from BUNJINJOURNAL.COM. It’s from the 2010 California Shohin Society Seminar in Santa Nella. They one every other year and the quality of trees just keeps getting better. I’m alreay thinking about arranging my schedule so I can go next time.
Pirates
At least one blog has been pirating our posts, lock stock and barrel; but without our links and without any attribution to bonsai bark, or Stone Lantern. If you are reading this on any website or blog that is not ours, and is not attributed to us, then it has been pirated. Please visit us at bonsaibark.com. Thank you.
For more superb shohin bonsai visit BUNJINJOURNAL.COM.
Suthin Sukosolvisit. The old pro at work. From the album, World Bonsai Convention 2009 by Candy J. Shirey.
One of the very best
Suthin Sukosolvisit is one of the very best shohin artists working in the West. He and Dara (Suthin’s kind and gentle wife) own Royal Bonsai in the Boston area, though your chances of finding him there are probably no better than 50-50, as he travels and teaches extensively. In fact, if you are looking for a someone to lead a workshop, give a demo, or do individual tutorials, you won’t go wrong with Suthin.
Bonsai Cafe
All of the photos below are from Bonsai Cafe’s gallery and are just a very small fraction of their trees by a range of accomplished artists. It’s worth a visit.
I think this one’s a ficus. They’ve put the artist’s name on each photo, which can be a little distracting. But given how fast and loose ownership is in the wild world of the web, I can’t say I blame them.
Continue reading ‘Suthin Sukosolvisit: Shohin Artist Extraordinaire’
Contest entry number eight by Jonathan Pessin. There’s something going on with this little juniper, though I’m not sure where’s it’s headed. Cascade? In any case, it’s potential will have a hard time developing in such a small pot. Most of the best shohin are grown in larger pots (or even in the ground) and then reduced. As it is, unrefined potential is probably the best description. I do like the heavy little trunk and think that over time and with some work the deadwood might add character. Maybe it could go all the way down to the base of the trunk and even be hollowed out some at the bottom. Is it just the photo, or is the wire already digging in?
Once again, let’s get this over with
Two more entries and we can award one of you a $100 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. What are you waiting for? Details here.
The gnarled, cracked deadwood tells this old olive’s story. It’s by Carlos Brandão of Portugal. Height: 7″ (18 cm). Yixing pot. Courtesy of The Art of Bonsai Project.
Just back from vacation…
There’s almost nothing better than landing in that familiar place we call home after that little break we call vacation. Until you go back to work that is and the magnitude of just how far behind you’ve fallen sinks in (you should see my inbox!).
…and just in time
However, there’s good news. Michelle at BUNJINJOURNAL.COM has alerted me to a most excellent (really!) shohin gallery at The Art of Bonsai Project. Not only is it most excellent (already said that, but still..) but it saves me the trouble of putting together my own post just when I need it most. So thanks Michelle and thanks also to the Art of Bonsai crew for lending a helping hand.
The massive old trunk with it’s bumps and crack that tell an ancient story, captures our eye; but what about the fine branching on such a small tree? This type of refinement that is often overshadowed by thick trunks and dramatic deadwood, also tells a story; a story of time put in trimming and wiring and waiting for new shoots to grow. The artist is Mario Komsta and the tree is a Carpinus turczaninovi. Height 7″ (18 cm). Antique Chinese pot.
Want more?
Go here for the whole gallery
Shohin book
This is part of a display from Morten Albek’s Shohin site (Morten is the author of Majesty in Miniature: Shohin Bonsai, Published by Stone Lantern). The cotoneaster’s striking fall color and the elegant stand caught my attention.
Continue reading ‘An Elegant Stand & Touch of Fall Color’
These illustrations by Kyosuke Gun show three stages in the development of simple shohin cascading bunjin style pine. Though we don’t know for sure, we might assume that these illustrations are of an actual tree, as many, if not most of Mr. Gun’s illustrations are based upon actual bonsai. The illustration originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 39.
Small adjustments with big results
One of the purposes in this post is to show how a couple simple changes can turn an untrained stock plant in to presentable bonsai.
Continue reading ‘A Cascading Bunjin Pine in Three Simple Steps’
Suthin Sukosolvisit shows some serious stuff (sorry) with this powerful shohin (small bonsai) display. This type multi-tree display is the way shohin bonsai typically appear in judged shows. Check out Morten Albek’s Shohin Bonsai to see the rules (written and unwritten) for shohin display.
Suthiin Sukosolvisit
I’ve long been a fan of Suthin’s. Not just because of his shohin (though he is best known for those), but because he shows mastery across a range of bonsai sizes and styles. Still, shohin is what this post is about, and when it comes to shohin, Suthin is one of the best artists around.
Continue reading ‘Back Savers #4: Suthin’s Shohin’
Look familiar?
My apologies if things seems a little redundant around here; this is the third time we’ve shown this Shohin Japanese black pine. Fortunately, it’s a decent little tree and worthy of one more look.
The mystery has been solved
The reason you’re seeing it now is that it hasn’t been attributed yet. That’s because we didn’t know whose tree it was. Now we do. Here’s the proof:
Continue reading ‘Triple Take’
Still a mystery
I lifted this shohin black pine is from the American Shohin-Bonsai Association gallery. I couldn’t find who the artist is anywhere (and their contact link isn’t working), so I figured if I used it for our contest, someone would let me know. No such luck, so it’s still a mystery to me.
No longer Mr. Second Place!
However. two people did answer some of the of questions correctly (at least I think they were correct; the site doesn’t say anything, so I’m guessing). Of the two Vinicius Costa (formerly known as ‘Mr. Second Place’) was first, so he’s the winner. Congrats Vinicius!
I’d still love to know
Meanwhile, I’m not completley comfortable posting unattributed images (or text), so I’d still love to know who’s the owner/artist is. Anyone?
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