Rudd’s Pseudo-Apprenticeship at Bonsai Jidai

[Ruddigger]

I’m starting this thread to track my progress learning with David Nguy at Bonsai Jidai. Back in May I took a beginner class with David and he told me he thinks I have talent and he wanted to teach me for free. So whenever I have some free time I go to his house and he gives me something to work on.

The first trees he gave me were half dead Junipers, to judge my wiring. I’ll post some before and afters. They arent great, but most of the material was pretty rough. And my wiring wasnt the best at that time.

 

[Hartinez]

Dope Rudd! Looking forward to following along.

 

[Ruddigger]

After a couple weeks he started giving me material that wasn’t half dead from spider mites.

I really like the way this one turned out. I spent two days on it, and we split the trunk and put a big bend in it with a jack. When I came back the next week it was sold.


This one was a speed drill. David wanted me to start working towards live demos, so I did this one in a couple hours, with really no refinement. It’s not great.



Shimpaku grafted California Juniper


This big prostrata I do not like. David’s style leans towards wide, full looking trees. I wanted to flip the front and really bring everything in and down, for a much narrower tree, but I was overruled.


This is a live demo I did at our club show this month. Took about 1.5 hours, someone from the Phoenix club bought it at the silent auction, (if you’re on here, hope its still alive! Lol)

 

[Ruddigger]

This week David asked me if I wanted to wire one of his big Californias. Um, yeah! David letting me wire a California feels like leveling up. It’s not done yet, I have about 15 hours into it and I’m about 2/3 done. Theres a ton of tiny branch clusters he likes to keep and wire out to achieve the “full” look that he’s known for.

 

[DanaWhicker]

Thank you for sharing. You got skillz. Will follow.

 

[Colorado]

Wow, very impressive, Rudd! Great work. I think we all agree with your teacher that you’ve got the bonsai talent.

Good for you for capitalizing on this amazing opportunity. It’s been my experience in life that golden opportunities don’t come often, but when they do, it is the result of a lot of hard work to put yourself in that position, a lot of patience, and a little bit of luck. The rest is up to you! Looks like you are making the most of it. I’ll certainly be following along!

 

[NaoTK]

pseudo-awesome!

 

[Ruddigger]

I finished the California yesterday. Took another 7 hours.

 

[Ruddigger]

I put up the backdrop today, and took a better picture. My teacher was pleased, he gave me 4 more californias and a Mikawa jbp to work on.

 

[Hartinez]

I put up the backdrop today, and took a better picture. My teacher was pleased, he gave me 4 more californias and a Mikawa jbp to work on.

View attachment 461655

I like it Rudd. My only criticism would be the uniformity and lack of jins.

 

[LuZiKui]

Hell yeah I'll be following along for sure. Your work is great and what an incredible opportunity, he's got some amazing trees out there. I'm a member of the Orange County Bonsai Society and we did a little 1 day class with him and June and it was awesome.

Not to derail your thread (I can take this to the PMs if you'd prefer), but did you take just a single class from him or did you sign up for the beginner course that meets multiple times over a number of months? I was thinking about asking the Mrs. for bonsai classes for Christmas and would love to get some more hands on training with David. Curious what your suggestion would be.

Also, since you know David you may want to let him know it looks like his website expired. I was just on it a couple weeks ago so it probably just happened. Thanks!

 

[Ruddigger]

Hell yeah I'll be following along for sure. Your work is great and what an incredible opportunity, he's got some amazing trees out there. I'm a member of the Orange County Bonsai Society and we did a little 1 day class with him and June and it was awesome.

Not to derail your thread (I can take this to the PMs if you'd prefer), but did you take just a single class from him or did you sign up for the beginner course that meets multiple times over a number of months? I was thinking about asking the Mrs. for bonsai classes for Christmas and would love to get some more hands on training with David. Curious what your suggestion would be.

Also, since you know David you may want to let him know it looks like his website expired. I was just on it a couple weeks ago so it probably just happened. Thanks!

Thanks. I signed up for the beginner class, yeah. If you’re a new student he makes everyone start with the beginner course, there are a few peopoe that came from your club, I believe. He also offers special workshops for members of our club, “Chino Bonsai Club,” if you want to get in that way too. Theres a meeting this Sunday at 9am.

Which of his websites are you referring to, he has a few.

 

[Ruddigger]

I like it Rudd. My only criticism would be the uniformity and lack of jins.

I agree. The back has way more deadwood, but it completely hides the live vein. As for the uniformity, yeah, its not my style, but also not my tree. I have to conform to what my sensei wants for his trees. It’s funny, I’ll style a tree with asymmetry or more negative space, and he’ll come by and rearrange everything to be uniform.

 

[LuZiKui]

Thanks for the info. I'll be out of town this weekend but I'll try to check it out!

This is the website I've visited in the past: http://www.bonsaijidai.com/

 

[Hartinez]

I agree. The back has way more deadwood, but it completely hides the live vein. As for the uniformity, yeah, its not my style, but also not my tree. I have to conform to what my sensei wants for his trees. It’s funny, I’ll style a tree with asymmetry or more negative space, and he’ll come by and rearrange everything to be uniform.

Haha. That is funny. I guess I should have figured that. For such a rugged tree you would think the foliage should match! It’s really clean work regardless.

 

[Ruddigger]

Styled another one today. Got this guy done in about 6 hours. There are a few pads I’d like to tweak, but I ran out of daylight.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I put up the backdrop today, and took a better picture. My teacher was pleased, he gave me 4 more californias and a Mikawa jbp to work on.

View attachment 461655

Any photo with size reference? looks like a freaking beast

 

[Ruddigger]

It’s a baby compared to the last one, which was about 3’ tall. This one, the green bit is about 20” tall. I can actually carry this one around.

Edit, just saw you were referring to the last one. Yeah, its enormous.

 

[Hartinez]

Styled another one today. Got this guy done in about 6 hours. There are a few pads I’d like to tweak, but I ran out of daylight.
View attachment 462350View attachment 462351

Love this one Rud.

 

[Ruddigger]

Another california. The apex needs to grow out quite a bit towards the left.