Before: The wire has been applied and is ready to bend. The two illustrations in this post are from Bonsai Today issue 107, from an article entitled ‘Wiring a Young Tree.’ After. A good place to start Most beginning wiring instructions start with how to place wire and then move toward the actual uses of wiring. Our approach here is a little different: if you can see a simple result of the use of wire, you might be inspired to learn the basics (stay tuned).
From above, after thinning and wiring. Notice how fine wire is used all the way out to the tips of each twig. The photos in this post are from Bonsai Today issue 92. The artist is Mr. Kiyoshi Yamagami. The tree is a Japanese white pine. Attention to detail and patience One of the things that separates world class bonsai from mediocre bonsai is refinement (some bonsai appear over-refined, but that’s another story). Refinement, requires attention to detail and patience and has a lot to do with how you relate to small branches and twigs.
This Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is going to stay put right where it is. Photo by Andy Smith, from the home page on Andy’s Golden Arrow Bonsai. Andy Smith Andy Smith is a bonsai artist and professional woodsman who specializes in collecting trees from nature. Though I’ve only met Andy once, and have never been collecting with him, I can say with some degree of certainty, that Andy knows what he’s doing when it comes to collecting and caring for yamadori. If you would like to learn how to collect the right way, check out Andy’s DVD, How to Collect … Continue reading Deadwood South Dakota: Yamadori part 1
If you’re new to bonsai and want to get started using wire, this video by Lindasy Farr of Bonsai Farm (on YouTube) offers a simple, clear lesson.
I could watch and listen to Ben Oki for a long time. In this one, you get to watch the old master wiring, and, as a bonus, hear a story about John Naka; another old master. FYI: John Naka was considered the dean of American bonsai. He died in 2004. Bonsai Today issue 93 features a special on Mr. Naka and you can enjoy his sketches in The John Naka Sketch Book (The National Bonsai Foundation). Two other noteworthy Naka books are: Bonsai Techniques one and two (Bonsai Institute of California).