Penjing Forum

[AZbonsai]

Worry less about "style" and more about emotion. I kid you not, after doing this for 30 years, I find myself drifting away from the rules, and asking myself the question "does it 'move' me?"

Of course that is MY definition of bonsai - Mother Nature in a small form. Can I look at a bonsai (as an art form) and does it speak to me? It can satisfy all the rules of bonsai, in the way that the LA River can satisfy the rules of being a river... but is it Mother Nature? The best bonsai are those that are developed by man (and woman) kind... without leaving a trace. I have seen a handful of bonsai in my life that mystify me. And none of them are mine.

The first time a fellow bonsai person sees the bonsai you created that "moves you" they will slap a label on it. Not because you followed all the "rules" of that particular style, it is because it gives them a reference point. I am not a huge rule follower, however, I do think it is important to know the history of the different styles of bonsai and one thing that helps me understand them is the "rules" of that particular style. I am almost sure when you are creating your bonsai you have some formal and informal personal "rules" that you follow, don't you?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The first time a fellow bonsai person sees the bonsai you created that "moves you" they will slap a label on it. Not because you followed all the "rules" of that particular style, it is because it gives them a reference point. I am not a huge rule follower, however, I do think it is important to know the history of the different styles of bonsai and one thing that helps me understand them is the "rules" of that particular style. I am almost sure when you are creating your bonsai you have some formal and informal personal "rules" that you follow, don't you?

Absolutely. But the art is the finish line - not the style, not the rules. The style and the rules are the enablers - but they aren't what you are trying to achieve. That is why I point out that I have seen technically excellent bonsai that have all of the artistic attraction of a cheap artificial Christmas tree. Make your tree exude nature. Use the rules and the styles to get there, but understand that if your tree doesn't exude nature you are failing.

 

[AZbonsai]

Absolutely. But the art is the finish line - not the style, not the rules. The style and the rules are the enablers - but they aren't what you are trying to achieve. That is why I point out that I have seen technically excellent bonsai that have all of the artistic attraction of cheap artificial Christmas tree. Make your tree exude nature. Use the rules and the styles to get there, but understand that if your tree doesn't exude nature you are failing.

We are in agreement friend!

 

[Potawatomi13]

Absolutely. But the art is the finish line - not the style, not the rules. The style and the rules are the enablers - but they aren't what you are trying to achieve. That is why I point out that I have seen technically excellent bonsai that have all of the artistic attraction of a cheap artificial Christmas tree. Make your tree exude nature. Use the rules and the styles to get there, but understand that if your tree doesn't exude nature you are failing.

Honest true observation. Obvious lack of "likes" or positive comments from certain rule bound "gurus" on site. Cannot see forest for trees but only unnaturally developed oh so "refined" perfect as possible trees.

 

[Anthony]

The problem is ------------ Nature ------------- how it is observed.

On our side it is very rare a tree missing bark or physically damaged lives for long. Termites etc and you are gone.
So no real examples of - driftwood - decorative holes etc,

Thus - Lingnan - grow and clip here is different to what is seen in South China.

Some of our trees and shrubs are adapted to high level healing, right down to making cut roots into covered stumps,
that may never grow a feeder shoot again.

Right now we have a collected roadside shrub, that at 3" is healing a large sawn off zone. Even as it goes through
our version of winter, and is dropping all of the leaves.

Additionally trees down here prefer domes and domes within the dome. So the look will be very different to a
Chinese ink painting from the 1200's for example.
Variety is truly the spice of life.
Good Day
Anthony

* And our local willow leaf type ficus p. prefers to live in almost 100 % 5 mm silica based gravel, but not so much
crushed granite or basalt imported from Canada.
Must be the alkali present ?

 

[Potawatomi13]

The problem is ------------ Nature ------------- how it is observed.

On our side it is very rare a tree missing bark or physically damaged lives for long. Termites etc and you are gone.
So no real examples of - driftwood - decorative holes etc,

Thus - Lingnan - grow and clip here is different to what is seen in South China.

Some of our trees and shrubs are adapted to high level healing, right down to making cut roots into covered stumps,
that may never grow a feeder shoot again.

Right now we have a collected roadside shrub, that at 3" is healing a large sawn off zone. Even as it goes through
our version of winter, and is dropping all of the leaves.

Additionally trees down here prefer domes and domes within the dome. So the look will be very different to a
Chinese ink painting from the 1200's for example.
Variety is truly the spice of life.
Good Day
Anthony

* And our local willow leaf type ficus p. prefers to live in almost 100 % 5 mm silica based gravel, but not so much
crushed granite or basalt imported from Canada.
Must be the alkali present ?

Is small problem. Each area has different nature as do each people. If wanting pics can be found of many other world areas trees and natural areas. Also more difficult but can be found oriental artwork of trees.

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Wow, very impressive...I have perused your website and information available and it appears you are a very accomplished individual in the World of Languages, your Bonsai pictures are very nice, love the Quince...
Is your friend in photo a Lepoard or Cheeta ???
You look very young and not typical Korean looks, ???
I watch all the National Geo and History stuff on TV, I am especially interested in Origins of Religion, Christianity, Hebrew, Buhhdism, Hindu, Zen....

Sorry I have been busy so I didnt see your message. Thanks for the input on the website. I really enjoy languages and trees. Thanks so much. Languages are great for your brain and help you stay young....so by the way I am Boer ethnicity and an Australian heheh. So being Boer I also speak a medieval version of Dutch....we are slow on the whole update thing hehhe

 

[Potawatomi13]

but understand that if your tree doesn't exude nature you are failing

Hear,Hear!

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Hear,Hear!

Hear, hear I wecond that notion

 

[Wilson]

The problem is ------------ Nature ------------- how it is observed.

On our side it is very rare a tree missing bark or physically damaged lives for long. Termites etc and you are gone.
So no real examples of - driftwood - decorative holes etc,

Thus - Lingnan - grow and clip here is different to what is seen in South China.

Some of our trees and shrubs are adapted to high level healing, right down to making cut roots into covered stumps,
that may never grow a feeder shoot again.

Right now we have a collected roadside shrub, that at 3" is healing a large sawn off zone. Even as it goes through
our version of winter, and is dropping all of the leaves.

Additionally trees down here prefer domes and domes within the dome. So the look will be very different to a
Chinese ink painting from the 1200's for example.
Variety is truly the spice of life.
Good Day
Anthony

* And our local willow leaf type ficus p. prefers to live in almost 100 % 5 mm silica based gravel, but not so much
crushed granite or basalt imported from Canada.
Must be the alkali present ?

Must be the road salts in Canadian gravel!

 

[AZbonsai]

Went to the Huntington Library this past week..Beautiful gardens and many bonsai. Picked this book up published about 4 years ago it has some interesting design ideas. Keshiki means landscape. Modern twist on penjing.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

..Beautiful gardens and many bonsai. Picked this book up published about 4 years ago it has some interesting design ideas.

I thought you were going to say you "picked up" that elm there

 

[AZbonsai]

Funny you say that...while we were there someone reached in to touch one of the bonsai and alarms went off...guards showed up quickly. Cork Bark is mine...no where near Huntington material