I won’t say where juniper (looks like a shimpaku) bonsai came from, but will say why we choose it as an eccentric bonsai (see below) after an apology for it being slightly out of focus (it was enlarged a tad too much so it would fit our format).
The contest: win a $25 gift certificate to Stone Lantern
The first person to tell us whose tree this is and where we can verify that, will win a $25 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. Please put your answer in the comments below.
Eccentric?
I realize that eccentric is in the bleary eye of the beholder, and certainly mean no offense to the artist.
Unsettling?
There is something about the relationship of the two trunks that seems unusual, almost unsettling. I like the slanting right trunk and think that it could stand on its own, especially if the branches and crown where developed a bit more. The stately left trunk also has possibilities as a bunjin. Both trunks appear to have great deadwood; it would be nice to see close ups.
Near equals
So, what’s unsettling? Perhaps it’s the two trunks being too close to equals in magnitude. Though the left trunk is much taller, the right trunk is almost its equal because it’s thicker and stronger. People that study aesthetics sometimes say that this creates a problem for the viewer. Rather than finding one dominant place (focal point) to start and return to, the eye just flickers back and forth between two equally powerful objects.
Jaws, or maybe a structural weakness
Or maybe it’s that the two trunks look a bit like a jaws about to snap shut. Or, perhaps its the way the two form a large V. On large landscape trees a V like this is considered a weakness. Eventually the heavy leaning branch or trunk will most likely split off due to the force of its weight. In this case, because the second trunk is supported by its flaring base, it may never be problem (were it a full sized tree). Nevertheless, that might be why the angle and relationship of the two trunks seems a little unsettling. Anyone else?
More on Junipers and on bonsai aesthetics
Hi Wayne,
This wonderful juniper belongs to Lee Kennedy of the U.K. I believe it was shown at the 2009 Best of British Bonsai show, in a different (smaller, more suitable) pot, as can be seen here: http://www.fobbsbonsai.co.uk/news/BR09/BR26Aug.pdf
If you visit Lee’s blog (http://www.ponderosa-bonsai.blogspot.com/) and scroll down toward the bottom, you will see the tree as he purchased it from the Willowbog bonsai nursery and the tree after 6 months under his care and training, looking much like the picture you’ve posted. Quite a quick progression!
It is a very unique tree indeed, and I enjoyed your critique of it!
~Josef
There are two reasons the tree looks unsettling, other than the aforementioned, of course.
One, the lower trunk wouldn’t be near as flush, as, to my eyes, it looks as if the larger trunk is leaning over it, thus leaving it in shadow, causing some more die back.
Two, speaking of the one trunk leaning over the other one, lets say instead that the top trunk is learing, rather than leaning. To be crass, this tree is unsettling because the top trunk appears to be screwing the smaller trunk!
The rather Georgia O’Keefesque carving on the base deadwood, along with the masculine sharp angled deadwood on the larger trunk and the femine curves of the shari on the smaller . . . and well, agreed.
Unsettling.
I’m no asthete or Bonsai expert, but I agree the styling appears a little unusual, if not unsettling. I reckon this might be rectified by shortening the apex of the taller trunk by a third from where it bends, so it is still taller but doesn’t overshadow the lower trunk so much.
Another way to put this would be that the foliage is close to the shape of an equilateral triangle and I reckon it might look better scalene.
Thanks Josef and Congrats! It looks like you’ve won the contest. Please email Corey at contact@stonelantern.com and she’ll tell you how to use your gift cert.
BTW: The first link is restricted (it says forbidden!). I enjoyed the second (Lee’s blog).