“One Quick Glance at this Tree Brought Me to a State of Nirvana”

A close up of a rather spectacular root-over-rock bonsai by Robert Steven (the entire planting is just below). Here’s our original caption (from May, 2016)… Robert Steven has done it again. This time it’s a perfect root-over-rock bonsai. Here’s what Charles Bevan has to say about it: “This is unbelievably perfect. One quick glance at this tree brought me to a state of nirvana.” The three trees shown here are from Robert Steven’s timeline. No varieties given, and though we would rather know what they are, we can still enjoy simple bonsai beauty, with or without a name. We just … Continue reading “One Quick Glance at this Tree Brought Me to a State of Nirvana”

The Tao of Bonsai

This famous three-tiered tree, is a good example of how a bonsai can express both movement and stillness. All three tiers, bottom, top and middle move to the right, yet the overall effect is one of balance and stillness. Our friend and associate Robert Steven is the artist. This post originally appeared in February, 2011. It’s one of dozens of Bark posts on the bonsai of Robert Steven, a long time leader in promoting and advancing the art of bonsai. The trees shown here are from Robert’s facebook photos. Bonsai Wire Special 500 gram rolls Only 9.50 each A simple … Continue reading The Tao of Bonsai

The Tao of Bonsai

Bonsai on the Rocks

It would be nice to know the size of this powerful Penjing. Experience teaches that these type plantings are often much bigger and more impressive than you can tell with just photos. This masterful work of bonsai art, was posted by our friend and associate Robert Steven. There’s no translation for Robert’s text, so I can’t say much about it, except that it reminds me of the powerful rock mountains that jut out of the water in Viet Nam’s Halong Bay… and that just seeing these remarkable photos made my day. Continued below… 25% off All Bonsai Books Choose from … Continue reading Bonsai on the Rocks

Site Wide Sale Ends Tonight! – More Kingsville Bonsai

You can tell this is a genuine Dwarf Kingsville boxwood by the tight tiny leaves. This planting by Boon Manakitivipart was the winner of the Certre Award at the 2010 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. We’ve got two more Dwarf Kingsville boxwoods today. Sweet trees, but they grow microscopically, so don’t expect fat trunks any time soon. Continued below… Site Wide Sale Ends Tonight 20% to 25% off Everything* Don’t get caught napping! Sale ends tonight, Wednesday, Dec 14th at 11:59pm EST A great pot and the finishing touches that the moss and soil present, don’t hurt this sweet little … Continue reading Site Wide Sale Ends Tonight! – More Kingsville Bonsai

A Bonsai Symphony in Three Movements

This super-sized three part penjing is by Robert Steven; renowned bonsai artist, teacher, author and tool designer (his New RS Shears are below), and frequent contributor to this blog. We’ve shown this one before, but we’re busy with the seasonal rush, so we’ll take the easy way out and save some time. In Robert Steven’s own words… “This is a super large penjing I did two weeks ago. The total length is three meters (about 10 feet). I combined three large special-order white marble trays in the arrangement in order to give a unique presentation in perspective and composition. The … Continue reading A Bonsai Symphony in Three Movements

NEW Masters Bonsai Shears Ergonomically Designed by Robert Steven of the Highest Quality Stainless Steel

NEW Heavy Duty Masters Shears designed by Robert Steven of the highest quality stainless steel each in its own in Wooden Bamboo Box These awesome NEW heavy duty stainless steel bonsai shears were designed by Robert Steven and produced to create a beautiful and superior ergonomic tool for the connoisseur of the finest tools for the best bonsai results. Every curve and detail on this powerful tool ensures comfort and durability as well as artistic beauty. To see it is to be delighted and to hold it and use it is to be doubly delighted. The material used is … Continue reading NEW Masters Bonsai Shears Ergonomically Designed by Robert Steven of the Highest Quality Stainless Steel

More Broken Chains & Blending Tradition Chinese Penjing with Something Much Newer & More Radical

Yesterday the chains were broken. Today it’s the chains and the arm. It’s a good thing the tree and pot survived. The photo is cropped so the nitty-gritty at the bottom will show when it’s magically transported to social media (the original is below). Yesterday, we featured some photos and text (courtesy of our friend Robert Steven) from the recent 3rd National Xiaopin Penjing & Wild Grass Exhibition. Today we’ve got some more for you (and even more tomorrow). The more I look at the photos the more fascinated I become. The scope and variety and especially the concepts behind … Continue reading More Broken Chains & Blending Tradition Chinese Penjing with Something Much Newer & More Radical

Breaking Bonsai Chains

This highly unusual bonsai display (previously highly unusual anyway – thanks to Robert Steven and others, displays like this are becoming more common) is from 3rd National Xiaopin Penjing & Wild Grass Exhibition. In Roberts words: “The hands sculptures with the broken chains symbolize the theme of breaking through in creativity.” The other day Robert Steven sent us a whole slew of remarkable photos from the 3rd National Xiaopin Penjing & Wild Grass Exhibition along with text that helps shed some light on the nature of the Exhibition. We’ll show you the text in full (below) and just a few … Continue reading Breaking Bonsai Chains

Scary Bonsai

Halloween? At first glance you might just see the tree and the cobwebs and miss the hands. This photo and the one just below are from Robert Steven’s 2014 International Bonsai Art & Culture Biennale. This special Halloween post first appeared one year ago today. There’s something about those ‘severed’ arms that’s just a little ominous. Is this where the recent ‘Black Scissors’ rage started? NEW Bonsai Wire Sale 20% off 500 gram rolls of Bonsai Aesthetics Wire plus an extra 10% off orders 100.00+ and FREE Shipping on U.S. orders 50.00+ I think this contorted little gem makes for … Continue reading Scary Bonsai