Penjing

Robert Steven Critiques a Black Pine and Offers Some Insights into the Five Schools of Penjing

Robert Steven’s simulation of a Japanese black pine that was submitted by Mike Liu (Mike’s original is immediately below). Mike’s original photo that was submitted to Robert. Robert’s Critique The Five Schools of Chinese Penjing The above black pine bonsai is sent by Mike Liu from China. Since Chinese bonsai is called penjing, I will offer a brief discussion of penjing. The main difference between penjing (Chinese: pen = pot; jing = panorama) and bonsai (Japanese: bon = pot; sai = plant), despite the terminology, penjing is more about artistic nuance in portraying natural phenomena; and bonsai is more disciplined … Continue reading Robert Steven Critiques a Black Pine and Offers Some Insights into the Five Schools of Penjing

$25 Critique Contest

This photo is from Kiki Bonsai. Win a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern Send me (wayne@stonelantern.com) your written critique of the planting in this photo. Try to keep it to 100 words or less. I will pick the winning critique based upon two criteria: 1. Content. How insightful your observations are. 2. Clarity. How clearly and simply you express your observations. DO NOT PUT YOUR CRITIQUE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. Email it to me at wayne@stonelantern.com. Put ‘Critique’ in the subject line. You will become famous I will post the winning critique and perhaps one or two others that … Continue reading $25 Critique Contest

BCI’s Fall China Tour

This enchanted (and somewhat fuzzy) scene if from BCI’s (Bonsai Club International) web pages on their upcoming China tour. China anyone? It’s too bad the photo above isn’t sharper. Still, it’s clear that the scene beckons you to sail amongst those towering cliffs (at least in your imagination). I doubt if BCI’s tour includes sailing, but you will enjoy plantings like this one. Disney World? Nope, it’s a little piece of China. From BCI.

Contest: Mystery Penjing

I found this near perfect penjing stuck in a file on somewhere on my computer. Unfortunately, I neglected to label it, and, like so many other things stuck in files in hidden corners, I don’t remember where it came from. I do know that it’s a Trident maple and I could make a guess on its location and who planted it, but maybe it’s more interesting to give you a chance. Win a $25.00 gift certificate The first person to properly identify the artist and the current location of this powerful penjing planting will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to … Continue reading Contest: Mystery Penjing

Native Americans at BIB’s Annual Bonsai Exhibit

I lifted this sinuous Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) off of a great gallery at Bonsai Tonight from the 2010 Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit. Though I can’t tell for sure, it looks like at least five full twists in the trunk. Not something you see every day. Here’s another heavy-trunked bunjin. It’s a Sierra juniper, also known as Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). It and it’s close cousin, the California juniper (J. californica) are becoming favorites of bonsai enthusiasts here and abroad. Natives It’s good to see is the use of native trees and their increasing acceptance as subject for high quality … Continue reading Native Americans at BIB’s Annual Bonsai Exhibit

A Cornucopia of Bonsai Art & Technique

This drawing by Kihara Susuma is from an article entitled ‘Exploring a Collected Needle Juniper’ that appears in Bonsai Today issue 98. Back issues of Bonsai Today… …are a great place to study the art of bonsai. Each issue presents a wealth of bonsai art and technique by many of the world greatest masters and teachers. Issue 98 table of contents Refining a Satuki Azalea – Beginner’s Section: If You Care – Bonsai Gallery – Beginner’s Section: Trees in Nature – Review: Three Bonsai DVDs – The Pottery of Max Braverman – Styling a California Live Oak – Exploring a … Continue reading A Cornucopia of Bonsai Art & Technique

In Whose Eye? Eccentric Bonsai #2: Figurines

Using figurines in tray plantings doesn’t necessarily qualify as eccentric; it’s common in Chinese (and other) penjing plantings. Perhaps it’s the type (you don’t see many moose in China) and especially the relative size of the figurine that makes this trident maple planting unusual. This photo is from an article by Randy Clark entitled ‘Bonsai & Figurines’ that originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 95. Randy Clark is the owner of the Bonsai Learning Center. The Japanese seldom use them… …. but the Chinese (and some others) often do. When it comes to figurines, basically its: penjing ‘yes’, Japanese bonsai … Continue reading In Whose Eye? Eccentric Bonsai #2: Figurines

Mission of Transformation is rapidly approaching

This powerful tray planting leaves little doubt that Robert Steven is a brilliant bonsai and penjing artist. From Mission of Transformation. It’s on shore and on its way A truck bearing Robert Steven’s new book, Mission of Transformation, will be ascending our long dirt driveway any day now (maybe today!). Walter Pall “Tradition is not the conservation of ashes but the propagation of fire. Robert Steven certainly is propagating the fire. What was started in his first book, Vision of My Soul… is put into practice here in this book. I dare to say that this book will become a … Continue reading Mission of Transformation is rapidly approaching

Classic Penjing/Bonsai Book Back in Print

The Chinese Art of Bonsai & Potted Landscapes Y. C. Shen, Beulah Kwok Sung, C. B. Sung Now, this rare and wonderful book is back in print. John Naka was a big fan and said that “this unique book should be on the reading list of all bonsai connoisseurs.” Dr. Wu Yee Sun, famous philanthropist and avid bonsai and penjing supporter said that it “is a masterpiece of great importance in the art of bonsai and will… without a doubt… be valued for generations to come.”

Pacific Rim

The two bonsai in this post, including this remarkable Korean Yew (Taxus cuspidata), are from  Weyerhaeuser’s Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. The photos were sent to us by David De Groot, the collection’s curator. This famous Chinese elm (Ulmus parivflora) planting is by Qingquan Zhao, reknowned penjing artist, teacher and author of Penjing: Worlds of Wonderment.