Show us some of your bunjins under construction

[JudyB]

I agree with you erb, as far as a lot of the examples that are out there (not all of them are good either...) I'm just also offering my opinion that to me, bunjin is more about a feeling that the tree evokes, as opposed to a certain branch placement formula.

 

[tree4me]

This is my bunjin juni in progress. I haven't worked with junipers much. This year I repotted and recently sulphured the deadwod to see if I could get some inspiration on a direction.

 

[erb.75]

I agree with you erb, as far as a lot of the examples that are out there (not all of them are good either...) I'm just also offering my opinion that to me, bunjin is more about a feeling that the tree evokes, as opposed to a certain branch placement formula.

ya, i definitely agree with you. It is much less "rule based". Although to tell you the truth I try not to follow too many rules for any of my trees for better or worse! I mainly just follow the golden rule of bonsai: proportion (aka taper)

 

[erb.75]

also, judy b is right. there are a lot of terrible literati's. probably more bad one's than good one's!

 

[erb.75]

maybe i love literati because I can't stand to hear another person say "there needs to be an odd number of trees in the forest" and then proceed to count 31 trees just to make sure...

 

[Vance Wood]

The rules exist for a reason if you can find them and write them down. That in itself is a difficult request. However the so called rules do exist for a reason. For better or worse they define and describe successful examples of the tree, style, shape, form or lack there-of, of all the bonsai you are likely to encounter. That's all the rules do. As to number of trees in a forrest once you go beyond seven it does not matter because unless you happen to be a math savant you will not recognize without using your fingers and toes, the duality of the number of trees. The rules exist only to tell you or me or the cook at McDonald's why a particular bonsai does not work or "looks funny". If the tree looks good and is pleasing to the eye and no one notices that it does not follow the rules then it follows the rules by being beautiful.

 

[Zac chandanais]

i value your opinions and I appreciate the comments. My thought for lowering all the branches was to imply that, at one time, the tree was full and had an apex and had something (lightning strike or falling rock) happen to it to cause it to split and lose its top half. This would be what was left. I didn't really want a pronounced apex when I was initially styling this tree. Weather that was the right approach or not? I don't know lol. I will stare at this for a while and see where it goes I suppose.
Thanks again for the comments! Always

Actually, this could be a nice very soon. I would recommend after studying literati for some time they you do not make all three foliage locations into branches that are lowered (as you have done). I would raise on up to be the apex (head) and the other two used for drooping branches (like arms/hands).

erb, literati is not a "formula" Not saying that the one you put forward wouldn't work, or that there are not examples of that out there. But it's a feeling, not a set of dynamics. To me it's more about the negative space than anything else, and how it works with the foliage instead of the other way around.

 

[MichaelS]

Since it seems to be a topic that invokes a lot of feelings I thought it would be cool to post some bunjin style bonsai or bunjins under construction so to speak.
I'll start off with a couple I'm working on.
First is an Atlas cedar that only has a years training, no where near close but maybe one day.

Next is one of my favorite trees- A CA juniper I've been working on for about 10-12 years. I'll be putting it into a more feminine pot in a couple of months.

This should get things started. I showed you some of mine so now lets see yours.

How is that Cedar coming along?

 

[bonsaibp]

How is that Cedar coming along?

Good I hope! We sold it last summer to someone in central CA.

 

[Mr.Bigglesworth]

Heres my Jbp bunjin

 

[Dorian Fourie]

I got this tree from a friend who was moving to Australia. It had sentimental value to them so I decide to Bunjin it. It is a Vachellia Karroo - Sweet thorn

I got it on the 17 January 2015

I potted it into a large pot as I received it in a plastic bag.

After some serious bending during February 2015


This is what it looked like exactly one year to the day from receiving it - 17 January 2016



This is my future thought process

 

[Dorian Fourie]

This is my Celtis Sinensis Literati. I bought this off someone who was getting rid of many of his trees.

This is its current front.



Side View



Back View and maybe a possible new front view



This branch at the back facing upwards is bothering me and I feel it does not really add value to the tree



I think if it is removed, you will have an overall better image of the tree.


Side by Side view of with or without.

 

[rockm]

I think of this boxwood as a bunjin of sorts. Some will say it's a boxwood trying to be a pine tree. I modeled it, however, after higher elevation oaks in the Blue Ridge. At higher elevations in the Southern Appalachians where I lived for years, the deciduous hardwood forests have more than a few tall, smashed oaks that resemble the high altitude pines out west. Although the Appalachians aren't nearly as tall as the Rockies, they are battered by high winds, hurricanes and snow that strip lower branches.

 

[sorce]

Sorce

 

[erb.75]

Actually, this could be a nice very soon. I would recommend after studying literati for some time they you do not make all three foliage locations into branches that are lowered (as you have done). I would raise on up to be the apex (head) and the other two used for drooping branches (like arms/hands). Literati can be very successfully done this way.

did I really say this? uhg...the internet keeps stuff forever

 

[KennedyMarx]

Scorce, I like that. Is that a J. chinensis? There are some green mound procumbens at Walmart around here now so I'm thinking of grabbing a couple to mess with. I planned on staking or wiring one of them up, maybe I'll try to reduce one like that. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[Adair M]

Scorce, I like that. Is that a J. chinensis? There are some green mound procumbens at Walmart around here now so I'm thinking of grabbing a couple to mess with. I planned on staking or wiring one of them up, maybe I'll try to reduce one like that. Thanks for the inspiration.

Just don't pinch it! Lol!!!

 

[Adair M]

View attachment 99458

Sorce

Sorce, those little dead twigs you wired... You could go ahead and strip the bark off. It would be easier to do it now while the wood underneath is still green. Once it dries, it's much harder to do.

 

[Shima]

An air/layered branch of metrosideros polymorpha. Ohi'a lehua as we call it. In flower which really surprised me. I'm surrounded by hundreds of acres of these trees and I'm always on the lookout for interesting branches.

 

[Adair M]

I'm taking the "construction" part literally:









This final image is the orientation I think it's going to take. The two grafts are growing well, and I think this summer I'll Jin off the remaining Western foliage.

That center section of natural Shari is really cool.