Enjoy Life! Enter Our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest

I found this little gem on the giardinipiscine website while I was looking for something else (that’s one of the wonders of the web). It looks like an azalea of some sort, but it’s the size (or lack of it), not its ID, that gives it juice. A bonsai in hand… … might be worth a $100 gift certificate from Stone Lantern. It doesn’t have to be small… … but, small enough to be held up by the fingers of one hand. The winner won’t necessarily be the smallest tree, but rather the tree that we feel is the most … Continue reading Enjoy Life! Enter Our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest

In Whose Eye? Eccentric Bonsai

This strange, jumbled profusion of colorful leaves in a bonsai pot is from Morten Albek’s Shohin-Bonsai Europe website. It’s a Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) by Jacques Graulus of Belgium. BTW: Morten Albek is the author of Majesty in Miniature: Shohin Bonsai (Stone Lantern Publishing). No harm intended This is our first post on eccentric bonsai. Our intention is to explore and expand our bonsai horizons. Hopefully our observations are not too aggressive or offensive. However, it’s my view that anyone who is daring enough to put a photo of their bonsai on the web, should be prepared for evaluation and … Continue reading In Whose Eye? Eccentric Bonsai

And the winner is…

First place Finally, after building excruciating suspense, here it is, our winner of our bonsai art contest ($50.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern)! This sweet tree on a cliff by João Pires has captured my imagination. Not that it’s the only one I like, actually I like them all. So much so that we are awarding a second places ($25.00 gift certificate), and three honorable mentions ($10.00 gift certs each).

Robert Steven’s Unique New Book is in Our Warehouse and Ready to Ship

This Pemphis acidula is just another example of Robert Steven’s artistry. But the real question is; how did he arrive at this level of artistry and how can you get there too. Robert’s goal with Mission of Transformation is to answer these questions. More than just another beautiful bonsai book Robert Steven wants to share what he knows about creating powerful bonsai. As evidence, here’s the table of contents in Mission of Transformation: Introduction, Bonsai and Nature, Transformation, Designing, Aging, The Principle of Good Bonsai Design (Balance, Movement and Rhythm, Emphasis, Simplicity, Contrast, Proportion, Space, Unity), Transformation Studio, Critique, Gallery, … Continue reading Robert Steven’s Unique New Book is in Our Warehouse and Ready to Ship

Contest Critique #3: First Thought, Best Thought

This simple entry by João Pires reminds me of the sumi brush paintings from long ago and far away (at least as long ago as the origins of bonsai and as far away as the wild and rugged Yellow Mountains of China). A few simple strokes Perhaps the best way to approach this kind of art is just first thought, best thought. So here goes: I like its simplicity and movement. With a few brush strokes you have an old pine clinging to sheer cliff. That and a lot of space for your imagination to roam. Anyone else? This is … Continue reading Contest Critique #3: First Thought, Best Thought

Contest Critique #2: More of a Dream

This was the first entry in our contest. It’s from Jim(?). We had posted a bonsai paint-by-numbers (see image and explanation below) as a starting point for the contest and Jim is the only entrant to use it. A troubled slumber Here’s what Jim has to say about his entry: “First eh? Well here’s my entry. It’s more of a dream than an entry. I awoke from a troubled slumber and put it down really. My eyes were thick with crust and my heart racing. Hope everyone likes it.” Sense of humor I think sense of humor is way up … Continue reading Contest Critique #2: More of a Dream

Contest Critique #1: Slanting in the Rain

This painting was submitted by John Burrows of Burrows Art. The paintings on John’s site are oils, so I assume this is also an oil painting. Feel free I’ve decided to critique each entry before I decide on a winner. Feel free to disagree (or agree) with my comments. Just remember that it is not my intention to offend anyone. First the good news I find the overall feeling of John’s painting (above) to be harmonious and pleasing (the same goes for the paintings on his site), and I think the suggestion of rain ads fluidity and a sense of … Continue reading Contest Critique #1: Slanting in the Rain

Get Out Your Brushes: Only Three Days Left!

You can view this forest and other bonsai paintings by Kim Straus at Artist/Rising. Take your time, but hurry up! Paintings, drawings, digital art, bonsai tattoos; the choice is yours. But don’t wait (and miss your chance for widespread fame and even better, a fifty dollar gift certificate to Stone Lantern), there are only three days left. Don’t be afraid Respect and admiration await, so don’t be afraid. You can submit the link to your masterpiece (or hack job – I like a good joke) in the comments below.

Contest #6: Bonsai Paintings Revisited

Roy Lichtenstein may have known painting but I’m not so sure he knew bonsai. The tree is strange, the pot is strange and too small, it’s in a place that makes no sense, even temporarily. Still, he’s Roy Lichenstein and he was rich and famous and probably wouldn’t have cared what I think. And, if he could enter this painting in our contest, (you can ignore the ‘paint by numbers’ idea if you want) it would be taken seriously. I borrowed the image from SoHo Art. You too can become rich and famous Well, rich might be a stretch, and … Continue reading Contest #6: Bonsai Paintings Revisited

Contest #6: Paint-by-Numbers!!??

The image that was in this space has been removed at the request of the artist. My apologies for any problems we’ve caused for the artist or anyone else. I picked this image up on Bunjin Journal. It’s a strange and wonderful site, with some parts just wonderful and some parts wonderfully strange. The image originally came from The Art of Bonsai Project. Be brave! You have one month. You can print and paint then scan it, or you can color using Illustrator. Or you can do something else. Anyway, just do it. Be brave! It’ll be fun and you … Continue reading Contest #6: Paint-by-Numbers!!??