Styling

Let’s Twist

This little Shimpaku juniper was grown in Japan and shaped by human hands. Though it’s almost impossible to mimic the raw and rugged look that nature sometimes comes up with, this one isn’t half bad. The final styling was done by Masahiko Kimura. You can find this photo in The Magician, the Bonsai Art of Kimura 2. Is it possible to grow bonsai that have the coveted natural look you find with collected (yamadori) trees? Judging from the photo above, you can at least come close. We don’t do a lot of how-to articles, but now and then we find … Continue reading Let’s Twist

Types & Uses of Bonsai Wire & Why Blogging About Bonsai Is a Total Disaster

Like most bonsai, this one has been wired. In fact, there’s visible wire on it right now. It’s a Shimpaku that’s from a chapter in our Masters’ Series Juniper book, titled Keiko Tamaki’s Deft Touch. Because this post is an attempt to dig into a bonsai topic in some depth (and because it might be viewed as an extended advertisement for our bonsai wire), I’d like borrow a disclaimer (slightly paraphrased) from our friend Michael Hagedorn: “There are plenty of exceptions to everything I’m about to say, which naturally makes blogging about bonsai a total disaster.” Most bonsai are wired … Continue reading Types & Uses of Bonsai Wire & Why Blogging About Bonsai Is a Total Disaster

The Right Stock, a Great Slab & a Good Eye

This is what you can do if you have the right stock, a great slab and a good eye. It’s a Chinese elm forest (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica), or at least that’s what someone named Iris says it is (there was some question on the site – ibonsaiclub – where I found it). The planting belongs to Heinz Leitner. The slab is by Erik Križovenský. Once you’ve seen Erik’s distinctive looking slabs and other bonsai containers (for lack of a better word) you’ll be able to spot them anywhere. This post started out with some photos of a unique bonsai … Continue reading The Right Stock, a Great Slab & a Good Eye

No Hidden Flaws or Ugly Spots

Cheng, Cheng Kung starts with this view, so we’ll call it the front (south). It has been a while since we featured a 360 degree Bonsai. The Juniper bonsai shown here is from Cheng, Cheng Kung’s Si-Daio website . If you visit Cheng’s Si-Daio you can watch the tree spin a full 360° circle. This 360° bonsai brings to mind an old discussion whether a quality bonsai should be attractive when viewed from any angle. No hidden flaws or ugly spots, no matter where you stand in relation to the tree. I’ve taken screen shots from 8 different points of … Continue reading No Hidden Flaws or Ugly Spots

In Relentless Pursuit of Color

This one is more about its outrageously rugged shape and texture (who says Japanese bonsai is too stylized?) than its rather subdued flowers. But that’s okay, it’s not every day you see a tree quite like this. Our friend Bill Valavanis has done it again. This time it’s a very impressive collection of photos from the recent 2016, 90th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition in Tokyo (report one & report two). Unlike me, Bill actually travels to the source and takes the photos himself. In appreciation of his efforts, you might want to click over to Bill’s blog and see them all … Continue reading In Relentless Pursuit of Color

Just for Fun

This Shimpaku juniper with its host of other plants (on an almost completely covered rock) is by Suthin. As are the other two Shimpaku shown here (as well as dozens of other brilliant bonsai by Suthin that we’ve featured here on Bark over the last seven years). If you follow Suthin Sukosolvisit, there are three things it would be hard not to notice. He is remarkably talented. He is also remarkably prolific. And best of all, he likes to have fun. For now, we’ll focus on the fun. In particular, Suthin’s occasional Just for fun posts on facebook. All three … Continue reading Just for Fun

Rebar, Turnbuckles, Stones & Wire for Shaping Bonsai

This is what you can do with a little daring and more than a little skill. The huge crack just up from the base of the trunk is intentional. Without it, there’s no way this old pine is surrendering to that first subtle bend and without the rebar and wooden peg there’s no way the second larger bend is holding. This photo and the before photo below are from David Benavente’s Estudio de Bonsai. We featured this one fairly recently (August of last year), but, because it shows techniques you might never see, I think it’s worth another look. Before. … Continue reading Rebar, Turnbuckles, Stones & Wire for Shaping Bonsai

Natural Transformation: A Tree’s Life Story

After. Robert Steven’s simulation of an Olive that was submitted by Gary Howes. There’s a lot to like about this simulation, including just how natural and untamed it looks (even the pot has an untamed quality). This wild, untamed quality tells a story of a something that has managed to stay alive and even thrive under some of the harshest conditions that Nature can dish out. This is our third consecutive post featuring Robert Steven. If you haven’t seen his bonsai or his critiques of other people’s bonsai, take a look. His critiques are full of useful insights and his … Continue reading Natural Transformation: A Tree’s Life Story

Four Bonsai Masterpieces & Free Critiques

Another Robert Steven bonsai masterpiece. He doesn’t say what kind of tree it is but it looks a lot like a Pemphis. Jammed up this morning so we’ll dip into our archives once again. This one is from last March. We just featured a Robert Steven critique, so this seems like a good time to show a few of Robert’s bonsai. Robert will critique your bonsai for free. All he needs is at least one good photo. Plain background and shot from a good angle and height. If you don’t know what a good angle and height is, just check … Continue reading Four Bonsai Masterpieces & Free Critiques

Smaller Pot, Stronger Tree

Robert Steven’s digitally enhanced version of a Trident maple by Carl Morrow (the photo Carl submitted is below). This is one of our earlier (September, 2010) Robert Steven critiques. And one of my favorites. The tree is great and Robert’s lesson is simple. Reign in the spread of the crown and the pot, and suddenly the already powerful trunk and nebari jump out. Not that they didn’t already claim some demand on your attention, but with the distracting horizon horizontal energy reduced, that demand is more clearly focused and exactly where it should be. There’s more, but we’ll let Robert … Continue reading Smaller Pot, Stronger Tree