Robert Steven’s simulation of a Bald cypress that was submitted by Mac McAtee (see below for Mac’s original).
It will cost you absolutely nothing (except maybe a little pride)
Email us a photo of your bonsai and we’ll submit it to Robert Steven for a critique. Robert is a world renowned bonsai author, teacher and artist (you could say bonsai master, but I tend to shy away from using the term) and we are delighted to be the recipients of his generous offering of his time and expertise (how’s that for a string of prep phrases?). Normally you would pay handsomely for such detailed advice from a bonsai artist of Robert’s status.
This is the photo Mac submitted.
Robert’s critique
I always emphasize the importance of ramification (branching), no matter the style of the tree; good ramification makes a bonsai look like a mature tree in nature.
There are some styles that need specific ramification structures if you want them to resemble trees in nature e.g. windswept and weeping style.
This bonsai looks like a dying tree rather than a weeping tree (sorry); simply because of improper ramification. The main branches are too stiff and too straight; something you’ll never find on weeping trees in nature.
The main branches should show curving lines along with more secondary branches and twigs. All of these should the same lines; that is, growing upright before bending down to weep. This is especially true on the top of the tree. In almost all cases, weeping trees have rounded rather that narrow tops.
Detail that shows ramification on a weeping tree.
My next comment is about the rock. It looks separated from the tree which expresses a lack of unity. You could rearrange with few more rocks in an over-lapping manner. This will enhance the poetic nuance….
There is more than one way to design any bonsai and my critiques and recommended solutions might not always fit your taste because of personal preferences. But I always try to give my opinion based on artistic and horticultural principles.
To understand my concepts better, please read my books Vision of My Soul and Mission of Transformation which are available at Stone Lantern.
You can also visit my bonsai blog.
I thought that rock might be a knee.
I wonder.
It is a cypress knee. Not grown by the tree but a collected knee that has the same angle as the trunk. It is just sitting on the moss.
For some reason I had no idea that my tree had been critiqued by Robert until today, 14AJul2011. I missed the posting. I am very honored.
Thank you Robert, Mac
Did you submit it for a critique?
Wayne, For certain I submitted it. But for some reason I had no idea that it had been selected until I noticed a link to a weeping bald cypress on another critique. I usually get the regular email announcements and just didn’t see it come in or something.
At any rate Robert’s advice is well taken and I have a direction to go. It will be an interesting exercise because this tree wants to weep no matter what. Any leaf stalk that enlarges and hardens off to make a new limb is headed down, right from the point that it joins the main limb or trunk. I’ll have to force some to grow up to accommodate Robert’s recommendations. No problem doing that it just takes about a year for the natural tendency to be overcome so it will head off up instead of down.
And one other comment.
It would be great if in a few years there is a opportunity to re-visit the original post with an updated photo of the trees that are critiqued. Kind of a before and later kind of thing.
I suppose “after” never gets here in a bonsai tree.