This stupendously powerful little Japanese black pine had just been refined at a Bay Island Bonsai workshop by Peter Tea when Jonas Dupuich (Bonsai Tonight) took this photo. The tree belongs to Boon.
Yesterday we featured five of Boon Manakitivipart’s bonsai, so let’s stay on theme and stick with Boon for the moment. This time the emphasis is on Boon as a bonsai teacher as well as an accomplished bonsai artist.
The photos shown here and some of the text as well, are borrowed from three earlier Bark posts (here, here and here).
Michael Hagedorn working at one of Boon's intensives. From Bonsai Boon.
Michael Hagedorn on Boon’s Intensives (from a 2010 Bark post)
I stumbled across the comments below by Michael Hagedorn while exploring Bonsai Boon.
First a little background: Michael Hagedorn is now recognized as one of our most accomplished bonsai artists, authors* and teachers, and Boon, in addition to being one of Michael’s teachers and a first rate bonsai artist, has long been a key player in establishing and furthering the art of bonsai in North America.
In Michael’s own words: “I first met Boon Manakitivipart some years ago at a bonsai convention. He was energetic and animated, and sported a day-bag slung over one shoulder. I recall telling him I had read some articles he had written, and was watching his rising career with interest. Back then I had no idea this man would eventually change my orientation in bonsai, and become my sensei….” Here for the entire article.
*Michael is the author of Post-Dated: The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk.
Close up of the tree at the top. You could search for a long time and never stumble across a trunk as abundant in natural character as this one.
This tree is from another Bark post on Boon. The photo was taken January, 2009 at Bay Island Bonsai’s show “An Exhibit of Fine Bonsai.” If you go to Styling on Bonsai Boon you can see how Boon and this tree arrived at this moment. There is no mention of the photographer, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Jonas Dupuich (once again).
Michael Hagedorn’s Post Dated
Still the best bonsai read around
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