Paying a Visit to an Old Friend

There’s something about a beautiful bonsai in flower. If you let your eyes linger for a few moments, you’ll notice how the seemingly perfectly placed flowers enhance the power of the tree rather than overwhelm it. It’s a bougainvillea by Robert Steven. All this photos in this post are from Robert’s facebook gallery. Always a pleasure It has been a while since we’ve featured the bonsai of Robert Steven. In addition to being one of the foremost bonsai artists and teachers on this fierce and lovely planet, Robert is also a friend. Not in the ordinary sense of buddies you … Continue reading Paying a Visit to an Old Friend

Lithe Literati: Another Great Bonsai Exhibition part 2

Not exactly a traditional literati pot, but who cares? Lissome literati I’ve seen hundreds if not thousands of literati bonsai (photos, that is) but very few quite like these. Enough said though (getting sucked back into work isn’t any way to enjoy a vacation). Part 2 All three photos in this post are from the Malaysia Bonsai & Stone International Exhibition 2012. I found them on Robert Steven’s facebook page. Even though this post says part 2, it’s actually our 3rd post from the Exhibition (including Robert’s demo). Here’s a link to part one. Again, not your traditional literati … Continue reading Lithe Literati: Another Great Bonsai Exhibition part 2

A Bonsai Story

A compelling bonsai story. If the best bonsai tell a story, this one speaks loud and clear. I think that the story here is expressed in the way the low tree on the right appears to have regenerated after a near fatal fall and the way this effect is supported by all the deadwood. Then there’s the overall balance that’s enhanced by the way the the foliage and wood on the small tree mirrors the large tree. There’s more, but enough said for now. A great demo at an excellent show A few days ago we featured some bonsai from … Continue reading A Bonsai Story

Another Great Bonsai Exhibition

The free-standing, somewhat strange deadwood on the left is both intriguing and disturbing. On balance, I think it’s a genuine eye-catcher that adds interest to the planting, even though the main tree would be excellent by itself. The original shot included a stand that seemed too large and distracting, so I cropped it out. Base-of-the-trunk level shots are usually the best way to photograph bonsai, but if they slip down just a little lower, they can over-emphasis stands and pots. The full photo with the stand is below, so you can be the judge. Robert is at it again The … Continue reading Another Great Bonsai Exhibition

Real Cedar Bonsai & A Good Neighbor

Jim Gremel had a Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica – one of the handful of true Cedars) at the 2012 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition that looked a lot like this one. Deer Meadow Bonsai & the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Some of the trees that were offered for sale at the 3rd National were every bit as good as some of the trees in the display area. One of my favorite vendors at the show was Jim Gremel (Deer Meadow Bonsai). Not only did Jim go to the trouble of coming all the way from Northern California, but he … Continue reading Real Cedar Bonsai & A Good Neighbor

Robert Steven Critique & An Intoxicated Debate

Sake fueled debate? Are these two old Chinese sages engaged in a raging (and perhaps intoxicated) philosophical debate? (Speaking of: Monday’s NYTimes has a somewhat interesting article/debate about Western vs non-Western philosophy for the two of you who might be interested in such things.) But I digress. What you are really looking at is a Robert Steven simulation of a tree that was submitted by Mr Zhang Bing for critique. Singing Robert’s praises We’ve been singing praises for Robert Steven’s bonsai, bonsai simulations and books for a long time. Here’s why; Robert provides insights about bonsai and especially Penjing that … Continue reading Robert Steven Critique & An Intoxicated Debate

Taxus Time & Missing Comments

After. Mario Komsta with Pete Carino and Bonsais Del Sur. Here’s Mario’s website for those of you who aren’t facebook friends. Mario Again? We (that’s me) tend to go on rolls around here. A couple years ago it seemed like every other post was about Michael Hagedorn’s bonsai. Then it was Bonsai Tonight. And of course there’s always Robert Steven (I reckon he appears in more of our posts than anyone). Not that these folks are the only ones that reoccur; when you post exclusively about bonsai three to four times a week for over three years you, recycling is … Continue reading Taxus Time & Missing Comments

A Mystical Dragon

Robert Steven’s simulation of a planting that was submitted by Paolo Netto (see below). More varied and interesting, but still… Last month Paulo Netto submitted a group planting for critique by Robert Steven. Now, he’s submitted another more varied and interesting group planting for Robert to critique. Still, no matter how varied and interesting, there’s room for improvement, and ‘room for improvement’ is practically Robert’s middle name. Paulo Netto’s planting. Robert Steven’s critique After the recent critique on Paulo Netto’s grouping, especially on the placement of the gate, he sent me a new grouping with different placement, which showed … Continue reading A Mystical Dragon

Bonsai Paradise

I think this wonderfully convoluted beast belongs to Yusuf Sirait; at least it appears on his facebook page. It’s a Pemphis acidula (Santigi). Bonsai paradise I wonder just how common naturally contorted wild bonsai stock are on the islands of Indonesia. Based on what I’ve seen online and elsewhere, it’s easy to get the impression that they are so abundant that all you have to do is walk out your door, bend over and pick a few. Somehow though, I doubt that’s the case. If fact, I seem to remember photos from Robert Steven’s Mission of Transformation, that show Robert … Continue reading Bonsai Paradise

A Penjing Symphony in Three Movements

This super-sized three part penjing is by Robert Steven; renowned bonsai artist, teacher and author, and frequent contributor to this blog. 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 mountains were made of real rocks by a friend who hollowed some areas for planting the trees (Triphasia trifolia, aka Limeberry). The problem was to find a background for the photo, … Continue reading A Penjing Symphony in Three Movements