A little work on a Virginia Pine

[Scriv]

Really nice work

 

[Wood]

Really really nice work. The movement of the branches, especially in the taller tree, remind me of the way pines are painted in sumi-e and Chinese ink paintings

Have you thought about changing the angle so the taller tree is vertical and the smaller tree is growing out away from it?

 

[johng]

Really cool trees and nice styling moving forward John. As a Virginian and Carolinian myself, I have a huge admiration for Virginia Pine, I’ve only got some seedlings but I appreciate all you’ve done we can admire in the southeast. I’d love to find some to collect one day but for all my searching it’s quite rare to find the right trees.

it is easiest to collect young seedlings...they won't miss a beat...these were collected as 6" seedlings. Larger ones are mcuh more difficult to collect successfully.

 

[johng]

Have you thought about changing the angle so the taller tree is vertical and the smaller tree is growing out away from it?

I have and will explore that with the next repot which will probably be on a slab.

 

[tanlu]

I’m a bit late to comment here, but here’s my two cents:

As a pair, the composition is much better. I like the forms you’ve come up with, too. It’s reminiscent of how VA pines appear in nature.

Some ideas:

- the composition would greatly benefit from allowing one tree to thicken slightly and the other tree to be shortened a little so that there’s more contrast. Currently they’re a bit too similar.
- the branches on the taller tree could be grown out a bit more and the branches (especially the bottom branch) could be allowed to grow out and droop a bit. Would add more interest to that tree and mimic also better mimic how mature VA pines grow.

From what or whose standards are you making this judgment? Just curious

These are based on general design principles, in this case: contrast, flow, and negative space. Contrast is achieved through differences in height and trunk thickness. Flow is achieved through the direction of overall growth (trunk and branch). Negative space is actually one of the key elements in bonsai aesthetics, which has roots in Daoism and Buddhism. The spaces between the branches and the trunks is enhanced when contrast and flow are well executed.

 

[zero]

These are based on general design principles, in this case: contrast, flow, and negative space. Contrast is achieved through differences in height and trunk thickness. Flow is achieved through the direction of overall growth (trunk and branch). Negative space is actually one of the key elements in bonsai aesthetics, which has roots in Daoism and Buddhism. The spaces between the branches and the trunks is enhanced when contrast and flow are well executed.

I’m just gonna say it… you know you’re talking to a man who’s been doing bonsai for more than like 30 years (if I’m correct) right? He’s been in numerous national shows, and has earned a lot of folks respect in the field. You’re comment lead me to believe you think he may be an amateur.

 

[tanlu]

I’m just gonna say it… you know you’re talking to a man who’s been doing bonsai for more than like 30 years (if I’m correct) right? He’s been in numerous national shows, and has earned a lot of folks respect in the field. You’re comment lead me to believe you think he may be an amateur.

First off, I apologize to @johng for giving the impression that I think he’s an amateur. I meant no disrespect. Thanks for letting me know, as this was not my intention. I’ve seen his other postings and can tell he has many years of experience, which I respect. I may PM him in the future about his experience, as I’m very interested in VA pines and would love to learn more. He has probably the best specime I’ve seen so far. The foliage is compact and he’s kept it alive for so many years!

But in my defense, this is a forum and bonsai as an art form (with horticultural requirements), so regardless of someone’s years of experience, if someone posts a photo of their work, it’s fair game for anyone to comment and share their opinion on it. No one has to agree. We’re all learning together, which is what keeps me coming back to this site for the past 15+ years.

I’ve had several (unofficial) bonsai mentors with trees that they’ve displayed at numerous shows. But I disagree about some of their design decisions and reserve the right to maintain and (respectfully) express my opinion about those trees. I’ve posted my own trees here knowing that folks will say things I may or may not disagree with. I welcome differences in opinions because it informs both my design and horticultural decisions, if that makes sense.

 

[zero]

First off, I apologize to @johng for giving the impression that I think he’s an amateur. I meant no disrespect. Thanks for letting me know, as this was not my intention. I’ve seen his other postings and can tell he has many years of experience, which I respect. I may PM him in the future about his experience, as I’m very interested in VA pines and would love to learn more. He has probably the best specime I’ve seen so far. The foliage is compact and he’s kept it alive for so many years!

But in my defense, this is a forum and bonsai as an art form (with horticultural requirements), so regardless of someone’s years of experience, if someone posts a photo of their work, it’s fair game for anyone to comment and share their opinion on it. No one has to agree. We’re all learning together, which is what keeps me coming back to this site for the past 15+ years.

I’ve had several (unofficial) bonsai mentors with trees that they’ve displayed at numerous shows. But I disagree about some of their design decisions and reserve the right to maintain and (respectfully) express my opinion about those trees. I’ve posted my own trees here knowing that folks will say things I may or may not disagree with. I welcome differences in opinions because it informs both my design and horticultural decisions, if that makes sense.

Yes totally understand your point about no one has to agree and we are all here to dialogue about bonsai, which should be an open conversation, of which John has given us no reason to think he wouldn’t be open to- it’s just the way you were *actually writing* your critique out seemed very patronizing, I thought it was worth a mention, so that you didn’t wade any further into that space, lest you trip in your own words. I think we are all here to hear each others observations about trees and stylings etc.

 

[johng]

@tanlu You can keep copying what the books and guidelines tell you to do... I'll continue to be inspired by the trees...

 

[johng]

you know you’re talking to a man who’s been doing bonsai for more than like 30 years (if I’m correct) right?

Thanks...37 years...but I wasted the first 15 trying to follow the rules...

 

[tanlu]

@tanlu You can keep copying what the books and guidelines tell you to do... I'll continue to be inspired by the trees...

Cool. That’s what bonsai is about. Nature is already follows those rules, too, and that’s what I do as well.