Year: 2010

Bonsai Critique: Simple & Profound

One of Robert Steven’s two simulations of a tree in a rock-like container that was submitted by Kian (no second name given). In spite of the somewhat fuzzy images, the general ideas come through loud and clear. Simple changes with profound results Sometimes an adjustment to the position of a container (above), or a new container (below), can radically transform a planting. Neither of Robert’s simulations involve any changes to the tree, yet both transform a somewhat stagnant planting to something full of natural movement and interest. Robert’s second simulation.

Repotting The Imperial Pine

The Imperial Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) at The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. In training since 1795. Photo by Jonas Dupuich of Bonsai Tonight. Rusty, are you out there? I came across  a link to the article below in a post on Bonsai Tonight. The post is about the National Bonsai & Penjing museum. The link to the articled appears in the post’s comments by someone named Rusty. Unfortunately, Rusty didn’t give his last name (maybe someone out there knows who he is). A complex task with a simple name The article is entitled Repotting the Imperial Pine. It’s … Continue reading Repotting The Imperial Pine

What’s with Taiwan? Lo Min Hsuan (& Friends)

A little change of pace. The tree on the right (Elaeagnus Pungens) has the mark of Min. At least the Lo Min Hsuan many of us have come to know. The lilac Crape myrtle in full bloom provides a touch of wildness, freedom and color. From the 2008 Taiwan Bonsai Creators Exhibition. Look out for Taiwan A friend of mine who is a computer engineer and often works in Taiwan with Taiwanese engineers, says that they are poised to rule the world (okay, a little  exaggeration), that many of them, especially the younger ones, are brilliant, fearless and wildly creative … Continue reading What’s with Taiwan? Lo Min Hsuan (& Friends)

This Time From Robert

He’s not really that small! Bonsai wishes from Robert Steven; famous bonsai artist, author and teacher. Not too bad with photoshop either. Can you imagine Santa leaving you this tree? Celebrate the New Year with Robert Well, actually with his great bonsai books: Mission of Transformation and Vision of My Soul.

Min Hsuan Lo’s Bonsai Teaser

Most bonsai shots show the whole tree, though you sometimes see partial tree photos (teasers). In this case, the photo has no trouble communicating the power and character of this magnificent bonsai, even if it only shows a little more than half of the tree and completely excludes the pot. All paths lead to Min Hsuan Lo I found the photo on one of the numerous bonsai galleries on facebook. It wasn’t attributed, so I traced it though several other photo galleries and finally landed on Budi Sulisyo (bonsai artist and author). It’s not Budi’s tree, but he did attribute … Continue reading Min Hsuan Lo’s Bonsai Teaser

Some of the Very Best Bonsai in the World

The trees are exquisite and so is the book.192 pages of some of the best bonsai in the world. This book, along with the first one and all the others to come, will surely become collector’s items. We can lay that notion to rest For a long time many of us wondered if North American bonsai was falling behind the rest of the world. Now we can lay that notion to rest. It turns out that what we were lacking was something the Japanese have had for a long time (the Europeans have had theirs for a while too); a … Continue reading Some of the Very Best Bonsai in the World

Microscopic Bonsai: How Low Can You Go?

I stumbled upon this the other day while mindlessly flitting though my daily facebook clutter. Here’s the caption that came with it: La foto de este bonsái pertenece al álbum de Kodachi Ken Senshi. He’s from Willemstad, the capital city of Curaçao. It looks like a shrunken down Juniper, but it’s not It’s a Pilea microphylla. They got the microphylla part right for sure. Its common name is Artillery plant. It’s a tropical ground cover that grows on Curaçao (an island in the southern Caribbean Sea that forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) which is where … Continue reading Microscopic Bonsai: How Low Can You Go?

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