Rules of Bonsai?

Though I don’t think this has much to do with ‘rules of bonsai,’ I like a well done bonsai drawing and this one qualifies. I found it here. The post is titled ‘?5º Workshop Bonsai Morro Velho.’ Rules or guidelines? I agree with Brent Walston when he says rules is probably the worst word (below). I would scrap it and just use guidelines. Anyway whatever word you like, I thought you might find this useful, or interesting, maybe even interesting enough to provoke a comment and start a discussion. I found it on Bonsai Chat Room. It was posted by … Continue reading Rules of Bonsai?

Inspired by the Master

I found this striking forest-on-a-cliff on facebook. It was posted by Dario Ascoli. It caught my attention for two reasons: first it stands on its own as decent bonsai with good potential for further development, and second, it is reminiscent of a famous Hinoki forest by Kimura (see below). Though I can’t find any information on this (who’s the artist etc), I’d wager that the trees are also Hinokis. Mature trees vs young trees Though comparisons are often odious (and unfair, especially when it’s with Kimura), still, older trees make for much more interesting forests. In this case, Kimura’s hinokis … Continue reading Inspired by the Master

Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!

This remarkable Trident maple turned up on Bonsai Mania via facebook. It’s from the photo album of Alex Probst. A little update (1/7/2011) Now I know that this tree belongs to Walter Pall. I also know that it most likely was not photoshopped. My apologies to Walter. Enhancing color I realize that everyone’s monitor isn’t the same, but still, this looks like a case of photoshopping to enhance color, when color is the point of the photo. In this case it’s yellow that’s enhanced. You can tell by the yellowish trunk and the yellowish wooden slab that the pot rests … Continue reading Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!

Stewartia: Graceful, Elegant & Not Very Common

This slender delight is showing off its inner charm. It’s late winter and the new buds are swelling. Without the leaves you can better see the subtle beauty of the bark and the delicate fine branching. The nebari is quite strong (but still in keeping with the delicacy of the tree). Much of its size and strength comes from having two trunks. This provides a good tip for creating nebari: leave smaller second and third trunks, at least for a while, if a strong nebari and lower trunk is your objective. Photo is from Bonsai Today issue 6. George Buehler … Continue reading Stewartia: Graceful, Elegant & Not Very Common

Of Scrolls & Tokonomas

This tokonoma with its spectacular scroll, is from Daiza Iwasaki’s house in Japan. A more cropped version of this photo appears in Morten Albek’s book, Majesty in Miniature, Shohin Bonsai. The original completely uncropped photo is below. Bonsai display I don’t think too many people pay very close attention to bonsai display. I’m sure there are some who do, but judging from countless photos on facebook and elsewhere, display isn’t a major concern for most people (especially outside of Japan). Relationships Display is a lot about the relationship of the elements. Though I’m far from an expert on the subject, … Continue reading Of Scrolls & Tokonomas

A Perfectly Beautiful Bonsai, Berries and All

This showy cotoneaster is from our 2010 bonsai calendar. The pot looks like a temporary show pot (for health purposes, the tree will most likely spend most of its time in a somewhat larger pot). Beyond that, the tree speaks for itself. Speaking of calendars Our 2011 calendars are in.

Robert Steven’s Super Mini Bonsai

Super mini Premna microphylla by Robert Steven. I took the liberty of cropping it a bit, but I think you get the drift anyway (The uncropped original is below). The smaller the more difficult… Robert sent us these incredibly tiny bonsai a few days ago. Here’s what he has to say about them and small bonsai in general: As you know, the basic concept in bonsai is to make a mature looking tree that is scaled way down. The smaller the bonsai, the more difficult it is to make. This is because it is difficult to form ramification (branching) and … Continue reading Robert Steven’s Super Mini Bonsai

A Great Transformation, But Still…

Though there is something dramatic and wonderful about this tree, there are a couple things that I’m not sure about. Most disturbing is the messy background that distracts from the tree. It’s actually worse in the original (Bonsai Today issue 56), but Photoshop helped solve part of the problem. The other more subjective issue is the rock, particularly the upper part. Though it is quite strong, to me it’s just not that attractive (though the more I get used to it, the less it bothers me). The tree is great with its powerful aged trunk, the way it clings to … Continue reading A Great Transformation, But Still…

A Gallery of Two

A sweet little root-over-rock by Robert Steven. I can’t tell tell you what it is or its dimensions or really anything (except that I’d love to see it in my collection). I don’t even remember where I got the photo (or the one below). Robert Steven is a household name Over the last few years Robert Steven has become a household name throughout most of the world (wouldn’t that be something?). Actually, about 99.99% percent of the people in the world are blissfully ignorant of Robert’s existence. Too bad. Maybe someday bonsai will enjoy its place as an art worthy … Continue reading A Gallery of Two

Black Pine Critique by Robert Steven

Robert Steven’s simulation of a Japanese black pine that was submitted by Tom Duong (see below for Tom’s original). Where’s yours? Email us a photo of your bonsai and we’ll submit it to Robert Steven for a critique. So far about ten people have dared and have learned something about their bonsai in the process. Now it’s your turn. Tom’s original photo that was submitted to Robert. Tom also submitted a back, left, right and top view. Even though Robert requested these, very few submissions have included them. While we are on the topic; when photographing bonsai it’s always a … Continue reading Black Pine Critique by Robert Steven