Upcoming Bonsai Events & Big Summer Book Sale Ends Soon

An example of Francois Jeker’s styling and deadwood carving. Francois is a headliner at the Eda Uchi Kai Bonsai-Ten 2013 (see below). He is also the author of Bonsai Aesthetics one and two. FREE ADVERTISING! Would you like to see your bonsai event featured here? If so, just send me a notice with a link to the event. That’s it. But remember, no link, no show. My email is wayne@stonelantern.com. You might also want to mention the event in the comments below. Big Summer Book Sale ends soon. 20% to 25% off all books. Don’t wait! Two classics, one old … Continue reading Upcoming Bonsai Events & Big Summer Book Sale Ends Soon

NEW Bonsai Books

Finally. Volume 2 of Bonsai Aesthetics is here and it turns out that it is well worth the wait. Volume 1 covers the main rules of bonsai design while volume 2 digs into what makes the difference between an ordinary bonsai and those selected for Japan’s famous Kokufu-ten exhibiton. What is it about these bonsai trees that cause such intense feelings when we see them? The author, Francois Jeker is an accomplished bonsai artist, author, teacher and deadwood carving master. Big Summer Book Sale. Strike while the iron is hot. We are currently running a 20% to 25% off sale … Continue reading NEW Bonsai Books

Great Bonsai Events & Only 2 More Days for Your FREE Bonsai Items

This remarkable old pine is from Exhibitons and Awards on Bjorn Bjorholm’s Bjorvala Bonsai Studio website. Bjorn is the headliner at the 36th Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibit (see below). FREE! Only two more days (today and tomorrow) for your FREE Bonsai Items FREE! Three of the seven FREE items that we are offering. All you have to do is place an order with Stone Lantern for at least 25.00 AND put FREE in the comments box when you check out. Details are here. FREE ADVERTISING! Would you like to see your bonsai event featured here? If so, just send … Continue reading Great Bonsai Events & Only 2 More Days for Your FREE Bonsai Items

A Solution to a Nonexistent Problem

If you pitch your tent in the Naturalistic Bonsai camp, then it’s probably too late to suggest you avert your eyes. So… as long as you are looking at this remarkable tree, I’ll just comment on how the static perfectly groomed crown seems to contrast with the swirling movement in the perfectly groomed deadwood. Something like that. The artist is Minoru Akiyama, who is one of the headliners at this year’s Mid Atlantic (scroll down a little for more info). It’s that time of year. You can tell because every other post these days features a few big bonsai events … Continue reading A Solution to a Nonexistent Problem

Thematic Incoherence & Embarrassed Apologies

Continuing with Bonsai Today, this gorgeous, sinewy New Zealand tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium) appeared on the cover of issue 96 (still available and 75% off). Not much more needs to be said about this one (it speaks for itself), except maybe to comment on the variety. Though you may occasionally see a New Zealand tea bonsai, in general they are not that common, at least here in the Northern Hemisphere. But, even if you have seen them before, I’ll take a wild guess and venture that you have never seen one quite like this. Thematic incoherence. This post is a … Continue reading Thematic Incoherence & Embarrassed Apologies

Weekly Wire: Back On His Feet, Nature’s Deadwood & Keeping Things Up to Date

Remember Isao Omachi? Isao’s house and bonsai nursery were swept away in the tsunami. That’s the tough news. The good news is that hundreds, maybe thousands of people in our international bonsai community donated to help Isao and his family get back on thier feet. As a result of this effort (and Isao’s and his family’s determination) Isao is back doing what he loves. This is our good fortune; Isao is one of the featured bonsai artists at the Mid Atlantic Bonsai Societies 2012 Spring Festival. This sweet colorful bonsai is from Isao facebook page. It looks like a Japanese … Continue reading Weekly Wire: Back On His Feet, Nature’s Deadwood & Keeping Things Up to Date

Sculpting Deadwood

Francios Jeker‘s finger and dremel power carving tool. From Bonsai Today 105 (still available). It didn’t used to be this way Have you noticed how almost everybody carves deadwood these day? It wasn’t always the case. I just thumbed through Kyuzo Murata‘s classic Four Seasons of Bonsai (first edition 1991 and long out of print) and could find only 3 or 4 bonsai that had some carving (out of over 100 trees). The same goes if you look back through other older bonsai publications. New horizons Even though it’s overused, carving opens up whole new horizons for us bonsai hackers, … Continue reading Sculpting Deadwood

Planning Ahead: Francois Is Returning

I picked this pine (Scot’s?) up off of Francois Jeker’s website. I had a feeling we’ve used it before (we’ve posted around 1,000 bonsai on this blog so far, so it’s hard to keep track) and sure enough, we used a slightly different version of it exactly one year ago today to promote Francois’ 2010 visit to Rosade Bonsai Studio (auspicious coincidence, eh?). It’s a classic yamadori and even though it doesn’t show too much of Francois’ masterful carving, I like it’s simplicity and power. Altogether a very handsome tree (and in an amazingly small pot). Return engagement Francois Jeker, … Continue reading Planning Ahead: Francois Is Returning

There’s Something About Larches

Larches in training by Francois Jeker. Good stock helps Larches are easy to grow (especially if you live in the north), easy to train and they are naturally attractive trees. If you start with decent stock and you have some grasp of design and technique, you can end up with the kind of results you see above. Near limitless possibilities This is not to say each tree couldn’t have been styled differently as they certainly could have. Give the same potential bonsai to five different bonsai artists and you’ll end up with five different trees. Bonsai Aesthetics If you’d like … Continue reading There’s Something About Larches

King Arthur’s Bonsai?

Juniper. From a series of photos entitled ‘King Arthur’ by Zino Rongo. A very sweet tree Though it’s unclear what the connection with the legendary King Arthur is, it is abundantly clear that this is a very sweet bonsai. It presents a strong feeling of balance and unity that isn’t always that easy to achieve, and the flowing lines of the shari are so well done that the wood appears naturally aged by time and the elements (it wasn’t). Even that slightly unsettling piece of deadwood that sticks up and points the opposite direction from the flow of the tree … Continue reading King Arthur’s Bonsai?