Contest Critique #3: First Thought, Best Thought

This simple entry by João Pires reminds me of the sumi brush paintings from long ago and far away (at least as long ago as the origins of bonsai and as far away as the wild and rugged Yellow Mountains of China). A few simple strokes Perhaps the best way to approach this kind of art is just first thought, best thought. So here goes: I like its simplicity and movement. With a few brush strokes you have an old pine clinging to sheer cliff. That and a lot of space for your imagination to roam. Anyone else? This is … Continue reading Contest Critique #3: First Thought, Best Thought

Contest Critique #2: More of a Dream

This was the first entry in our contest. It’s from Jim(?). We had posted a bonsai paint-by-numbers (see image and explanation below) as a starting point for the contest and Jim is the only entrant to use it. A troubled slumber Here’s what Jim has to say about his entry: “First eh? Well here’s my entry. It’s more of a dream than an entry. I awoke from a troubled slumber and put it down really. My eyes were thick with crust and my heart racing. Hope everyone likes it.” Sense of humor I think sense of humor is way up … Continue reading Contest Critique #2: More of a Dream

Contest Critique #1: Slanting in the Rain

This painting was submitted by John Burrows of Burrows Art. The paintings on John’s site are oils, so I assume this is also an oil painting. Feel free I’ve decided to critique each entry before I decide on a winner. Feel free to disagree (or agree) with my comments. Just remember that it is not my intention to offend anyone. First the good news I find the overall feeling of John’s painting (above) to be harmonious and pleasing (the same goes for the paintings on his site), and I think the suggestion of rain ads fluidity and a sense of … Continue reading Contest Critique #1: Slanting in the Rain

Get Out Your Brushes: Only Three Days Left!

You can view this forest and other bonsai paintings by Kim Straus at Artist/Rising. Take your time, but hurry up! Paintings, drawings, digital art, bonsai tattoos; the choice is yours. But don’t wait (and miss your chance for widespread fame and even better, a fifty dollar gift certificate to Stone Lantern), there are only three days left. Don’t be afraid Respect and admiration await, so don’t be afraid. You can submit the link to your masterpiece (or hack job – I like a good joke) in the comments below.

Master’s Gallery #2: Group Displays

From left to right: unidentified grass, Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), flowering ‘Nippon Bells’ (Shortia uniflora) companion plant, suiseki (viewing stone), another unidentified companion, and a very stately Needle juniper (Juniperus ridgida). By Masao Komatsu. Group displays Each group display in this post is by a single artist. Each display shows mastery in two art forms: bonsai and bonsai display. The photos come from an article by Saburo Kato in Bonsai Today issue 43.

Masters’ Gallery: Classic Bonsai of Japan

This Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) is from Classic Bonsai of Japan (Nippon Bonsai Association: Kodansha America, Inc.). The Japanese name for yew is Ichii. It’s was said to be two hundred years old when this photo was taken. As you can see at a glance, it’s a very powerful old twin trunk tree with great balance and contrasting aged deadwood and bark that add interest and character. Also, it’s not highly refined in the way that some Japanese bonsai tend to be (go here, here and here for more discussion on this issue). Rather, its look is rugged and natural. … Continue reading Masters’ Gallery: Classic Bonsai of Japan

Contest #6: Bonsai Paintings Revisited

Roy Lichtenstein may have known painting but I’m not so sure he knew bonsai. The tree is strange, the pot is strange and too small, it’s in a place that makes no sense, even temporarily. Still, he’s Roy Lichenstein and he was rich and famous and probably wouldn’t have cared what I think. And, if he could enter this painting in our contest, (you can ignore the ‘paint by numbers’ idea if you want) it would be taken seriously. I borrowed the image from SoHo Art. You too can become rich and famous Well, rich might be a stretch, and … Continue reading Contest #6: Bonsai Paintings Revisited

Triple Take

Look familiar? My apologies if things seems a little redundant around here; this is the third time we’ve shown this Shohin Japanese black pine. Fortunately, it’s a decent little tree and worthy of one more look. The mystery has been solved The reason you’re seeing it now is that it hasn’t been attributed yet. That’s because we didn’t know whose tree it was. Now we do. Here’s the proof:

Contest #6: Paint-by-Numbers!!??

The image that was in this space has been removed at the request of the artist. My apologies for any problems we’ve caused for the artist or anyone else. I picked this image up on Bunjin Journal. It’s a strange and wonderful site, with some parts just wonderful and some parts wonderfully strange. The image originally came from The Art of Bonsai Project. Be brave! You have one month. You can print and paint then scan it, or you can color using Illustrator. Or you can do something else. Anyway, just do it. Be brave! It’ll be fun and you … Continue reading Contest #6: Paint-by-Numbers!!??

Speaking of Kusamono & Companion Plants

An exquisite kusamono from our Japanese mystery book. Because I don’t read Japanese, I can’t say what the grass is (can you?), who the potter is, or even, what the name of the book is. However, I can say, with complete confidence, that the whole arrangement is beautiful. What does Kusamono mean? In his book Bonsai, Kusamono, Suiseki, Willi Benz says “Kusa = grass and Mono = object.” He goes on to say “If a Kusamono-Bonsai is the main object of a display, we use the term Kusamono. But if a Kusamono-Bonsai is used as an accent or complementary plant, … Continue reading Speaking of Kusamono & Companion Plants