Robert’s Bonsai Challenge – Which One Is Best?

Which one do you like best and why? This exercise is proposed by our friend Robert Steven. It’s one thing to glance at something and decide if you like it or not. It’s quite another to examine and express your reasons. One of things I like about Robert Steven is the way he challenges us to think about what we like and the choices we make. You might even go further and say that he challenges our whole approach; how we view the art of bonsai and what we are trying to accomplish. Robert posted this particular challenge on Komunitas … Continue reading Robert’s Bonsai Challenge – Which One Is Best?

Abstract Bonsai Art & Carving Deadwood, Sidiao Style

Abstract bonsai art. I think there’s a temptation to judge trees with elaborately carved deadwood (like this one). But maybe it’s best to just appreciate the the skill involved and not worry about too much deadwood or whether the result looks natural or not. Yesterday we featured Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s colorful side. Today we’ll touch upon his famous Sidao carving method and some results. Hopefully this will peak your interest. If it does, you can visit his website for more. Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s Sidiao method in a nutshell. There’s a lot more where this came from. Just another Shimpaku with … Continue reading Abstract Bonsai Art & Carving Deadwood, Sidiao Style

Refining Your Bonsai

I found this rather spectacular tree on Bonsai Nut. There was no caption but it’s part of a discussion on Korean hornbeam ramification. In these days of massive trunks and elaborate deadwood carving, it’s easy to overlook ramification. Even though good ramification is an essential mark of refinement. Especially on deciduous bonsai. In botany, ramification is defined as: 1. a structure formed of branches, and 2. configuration of branching parts. With bonsai, ramification is about branch development, starting with primary branches, then secondary, tertiary, quaternary and so forth, out to the finest twigs. Each level is thinner (and usually shorter) than the last, and when done well, the effect is … Continue reading Refining Your Bonsai

A Bonsai Lesson in Perception

After. This wildly flowing Shimpaku (Shin) expresses pure movement. It also presents a lesson in perception. It’s by Mario Komsta (aka Mariusz Komsta). If you have a moment, take a close look at this tree and see if you can figure out why, with almost noting on the left and almost everything on the right, this tree has an overall sense of balance. To my eye it looks like Mario did several things to make this tree appear to be balanced, and they all have to do with suggesting that you look to the left. Which is another way of … Continue reading A Bonsai Lesson in Perception

Happy Bonsai Holidays – Merry Bonsai Christmas

Though it’s usually considered bad form to lop off part of the pot, in this case it’s all about the color (and the wildly expressive trunk). The variety is listed as Issho-no-haru. This and the rest of the photos in this post are from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! No matter what you celebrate (or don’t celebrate), may you and your loved ones enjoy the Season and have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. The photos here are from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. In particular, a part of their collection of Satsuki azalea bonsai … Continue reading Happy Bonsai Holidays – Merry Bonsai Christmas

A Radical Approach to Pruning

The Japanese maple that Walter Pall uses to illustrate his ‘hedge-cutting method.’ This photo was taken four years after Walter started working with this tree. The before photo is below. I think this is the third time for this post, but it’s a good one. So just in case you missed it… Walter Pall’s hedge-cutting method. In a post a couple years ago, we featured a radical approach to soil and feeding by Walter Pall. This post features another of Walter’s radical innovations. This time it’s about pruning broad leaf bonsai. I first learned about hedge shearing bonsai from Jim … Continue reading A Radical Approach to Pruning

250 Million Year Old Bonsai?

This is the same tree we showed yesterday. Same pot too. Just a few months earlier. I borrowed the photo from Bill Valavanis’ blog, Welcome to My Bonsai World. You don’t see that many Ginkgo bonsai. My guess is that this is because they are limited in terms of what you can do with them. For the most part the branches grow more or less straight up and tightly bunched and trunks typically lack movement and grace; staying more or less short and squat as they age. Still, once you accept that Ginkgos are unique and unlike most other bonsai, you might … Continue reading 250 Million Year Old Bonsai?

Before & After – Spectacular & Even More Spectacular

That’s a Japanese yew that this spectacular piece of deadwood is clinging to. It was styled by Naoki Meaoka. The first thought that came to mind when I saw this tree was Yes! The second thought was; ‘is that piece of deadwood for real, or was it just stuck onto an otherwise unspectacular tree? But of course it’s for real. Naoki Meaoka wouldn’t do that. Anyway, it’s that time of year so we’ll keep this short and simple. If you want more photos of this tree, you can find them on facebook. You can also visit Naoki’s website. Before Before. Close up of the deadwood … Continue reading Before & After – Spectacular & Even More Spectacular

Mugo Pines & Bonsai Pirates

This wild and wonderful mugo pine was posted by Sandro Segneri of the Bonsai Creativo School and Academy. Still too busy, so we’ll dip down into our archives again. Most of what you see here originally appeared here in February, 2010. The exceptions are the tree at the bottom (from a Feb, 2011 post) and comments added today. There are at least two things that come to mind when I look at the wild Mugo pine above. First, it represents a break with traditional bonsai styles, particularly traditional Japanese bonsai. It just doesn’t look like what bonsai looked like not … Continue reading Mugo Pines & Bonsai Pirates

Eccentric Bonsai?

The compressed quality (like a very large foot stepped on it) make for a somewhat unusual but natural looking bonsai. Then there’s that wonderful trunk. The image is from Joko Sulistianto’s facebook photos, as are all the images in this post. I don’t know who the tree belongs too (ditto on the others). Busy time of year and running behind so once again we’ll dig into our archives. This one is from April 2012. It was titled ‘Eccentric Bonsai: Pushing Invisible Boundaries.’ Way back in the recesses of time (2009 & 2010) we featured a whole series of posts titled … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai?