Robert Steven Provides a Lesson in Improving a Group Planting 3/27/11

Robert Steven’s simulation of a group planting on a rock. The original (below) was submitted by Jemmy Liauw.

Where’s yours?
Go ahead, send us a photo of a bonsai <wayne@stonelantern.com>. Don’t be shy. Robert’s critiques offer you something that most of us never get: free, in depth personal instruction and a simulated photo of what your tree could look like. From a world famous bonsai artist, no less.

Jemmy Liauw’s fuzzy original.

Robert’s Comments
There are unlimited ideas to make different views of group style bonsai. There can be a close-up view, a distance view, a forest view or a landscape view. Although the basic concepts for all these different views are the same, there are certain differences in technical aspects that are used to obtain the characteristic of the final design.

With this planting, it seems that the artist wants to create a view of a landscape Grouping. One of the main characteristics of this type of design is the perspective. We should be able to create the illusion of depth,  even though the width of the pot is very limited. There are several technical tips on how to do this shown in the simulated picture (at the top of the page).

Despite the composition and the trees’ ramification, some minor changes will create a better perspective on the design:

1. The original arrangement of the trees is mostly in a fan style that shows a lack of depth, especially in the group on the left. So I added a few small trees in front of both group to create foreground and improve the sense of depth at the same time.
2. I reduced the size of the “hill” on the left side and created more empty space in front. Then I made a gap between the two groups with the right hill overlapping to the left. This small change simply creates a perspective illusion; the left group seems to be much farther back.
3. When making a hill, try to avoid a symmetrical round shape, instead, make it irregular with up-and-down contour. Such contour will look much natural, and most important; it will create a sense of perspective.
4. When putting green moss, do not cover the whole surface, but leave some spaces in front. This will draw the eye to the back and create a deeper perspective.

General comments
There is more than one way to design any bonsai and my critiques and recommended solutions might not always fit your taste and 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.