What “bonsaist” will you be uf you ever grow up?

[ShimpakuBonsai]

"Be yourself: everyone else is already taken." (by Oscar Wilde)

 

[Njyamadori]

I don’t really like Nigel sanders create a full ecosystem in your backyard philosophy and Ryan Neil’s American Yamadori only is too complex and boring for me.

Therefore I look up to Bjorn where he creates trees from seedlings, works on American Yamadori, maintains and ramifies imported trees, and just works with trees that will become great(either a cutting or a bonsai that just needs a little bit more ramification).

 

[Cajunrider]

"Be yourself: everyone else is already taken." (by Oscar Wilde)

The truth is one can only be oneself and no other even if they try. Yet it is fun to draw a parallel on a single plane every now and then. Our skills, interests, intellect are bound to intersect at one point or even one plane or another. My reason for creating this thread is to celebrate the similarities and not to point out that everyone is unique because it is entirely not necessary from my view.

I chose Peter Chan because people can like or dislike his style of bonsai or even consider it dated. Yet along with the wide differences in opinions about his artistry, there is one thing people cannot dispute is that he knows the physical limits of Japanese maples. Even though I've just been working with bald cypress for a short time, I am getting comfortable with the species. I seek to know more so that, if anyone comes to me with an artistic vision of a bald cypress bonsai, I can assist in bringing that vision to reality.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

I’m partial to the work of Walter Pall and Dan Robinson but with a touch of Nick Lenz for the whimsy. Maybe Harry Harrington in there somewhere.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

I’m partial to the work of Walter Pall and Dan Robinson but with a touch of Nick Lenz for the whimsy. Maybe Harry Harrington in there somewhere.

Holy hell uncle C that upvote was like 1 sec

 

[Cajunrider]

Holy hell uncle C that upvote was like 1 sec

CJR snagging BNut post.

 

[ShadyStump]

People don't make sense to me, so I don't think of it in those terms.
I think of it more like my future annual performance review, but that funny list of "I can't believe they actually said that on an official document" sort. Like the one that said "the wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead," or "there's a light on in the attic, but nowhere else."

The one I truly aspire to, however, is this: His men would follow him anywhere!
But only out of morbid curiosity.

 

[johng]

I can't say there is any single person out there that I would emulate completely...however there are many from the Western world with outstanding characteristics/talents that I admire...

Bill V....no one is better at taking average to subpar material and turning into fabulous bonsai...and with the patience to do over half a century. I also have always admired and emulated his work with group plantings
Ryan Neil and Bjorn B...spectacular eye for creating trees from collected stock...great application of technique and quality teachers
Sergio Cuan - attention to detail...nobody even comes close to his attention to every detail...his results speak for themselves...who else wires every limb and branch of a maple tree with copper wire??
Walter Pall and Arthur Joura for their focus on creating beautiful and naturalistic trees...
Will Baddedly(sp?) A carving genius...lots and lots of practice and observation have put him above all others in creating carvings that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing...
Michael Hagedorn...I really like many of his non-classical compositions

 

[Cajunrider]

I can't say there is any single person out there that I would emulate completely...however there are many from the Western world with outstanding characteristics/talents that I admire...

Bill V....no one is better at taking average to subpar material and turning into fabulous bonsai...and with the patience to do over half a century. I also have always admired and emulated his work with group plantings
Ryan Neil and Bjorn B...spectacular eye for creating trees from collected stock...great application of technique and quality teachers
Sergio Cuan - attention to detail...nobody even comes close to his attention to every detail...his results speak for themselves...who else wires every limb and branch of a maple tree with copper wire??
Walter Pall and Arthur Joura for their focus on creating beautiful and naturalistic trees...
Will Baddedly(sp?) A carving genius...lots and lots of practice and observation have put him above all others in creating carvings that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing...
Michael Hagedorn...I really like many of his non-classical compositions

This is what I like to see. These posts point out the strong aspect of famous bonsai masters that we may want to study and emulate.

 

[leatherback]

I already consider you to something of the sort.

lol. not sure if I feel complimented or insulted. Ah well, the first is easier. Thank you

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Easy for me- Jerry Meislik- all things Ficus!

http://www.fukubonsai.com/1f9a.html

 

[Joe Dupre']

No hesitation,……. Walter Pall. I have a good start on a critics list too. Ha! Be brave and press on!

 

[snowman04]

My guy is Mauro Stemberger. He is the Arnold Schwarzenegger of bonsai:

Can't get enough of the big trees!!!

 

[RKatzin]

No sir! Not gonna happen. I passed up all the growing up opportunities as they came and went. Now at 73 I'm drifting into my senior years and feeling more childish all the doodah day. Ferget aboud it!

 

[We're all Mad Here...🎩]

I personally just watched my first interview with Ryan and Dan Robinson, and while Dan's approach may be a little casual for most, dare I say purists, the fact that he has kept so many of his trees alive for decades with a minimalist approach is pretty neat. Ryan seems to me like he was bred for it, as well as Bjorn who is just a wholesome dude who lacks arrogance, but also has the Japanese chops and training.

 

[Bonsai Forest]

I want to be the Matt Foley of Bonsai, making little trees while I’m living in a van down by the river.

 

[dr.tenebris]

Fascinating thread... I never really looked to those who have set the standards for the art form... I simply wish to make beautiful trees... Perhaps I should look more at these pros.. but I also desire to do this just for me.. I feel as though I want to blaze my own trail and discover myself through my art.

Maybe that's just the idealist in me, I dream too much and don't like looking up to others for direction... Although a lot of you on this form are wonderful and I love it here.

 

[Cajunrider]

Fascinating thread... I never really looked to those who have set the standards for the art form... I simply wish to make beautiful trees... Perhaps I should look more at these pros.. but I also desire to do this just for me.. I feel as though I want to blaze my own trail and discover myself through my art.

Maybe that's just the idealist in me, I dream too much and don't like looking up to others for direction... Although a lot of you on this form are wonderful and I love it here.

I think most of us want to blaze our own trail. I just don't want to reinvent the wheel. I have not much time left on earth to repeat experiments already done and proven by others. When I do anything now, it is either something new or something that I want to repeat to hone my skills.

 

[ERClover]

Peter Chan’s YouTube channel was pretty much my entry point into the practice. I don’t even remember now a couple years on how I stumbled by it but it ignited a passion I didn’t even know I had. Now in my third (2.5) really growing season I’ve stretched far beyond the 20 tree agreement my wife smartly recognized would be necessary to even begin to control the spread of the virus around our yard.

Having been exposed to the much wider world of Bonsai now I recognize Peter has his…quirks. But the joy he brings to the practice and his willingness to share his “secrets” were infectious to me and I’ll always have a soft spot for that.

Hard not to admire what Bjorn’s done too. Maybe I’ll try watering my trees shirtless later today

 

[Bonsai Forest]

Peter Chan’s YouTube channel was pretty much my entry point into the practice. I don’t even remember now a couple years on how I stumbled by it but it ignited a passion I didn’t even know I had. Now in my third (2.5) really growing season I’ve stretched far beyond the 20 tree agreement my wife smartly recognized would be necessary to even begin to control the spread of the virus around our yard.

Having been exposed to the much wider world of Bonsai now I recognize Peter has his…quirks. But the joy he brings to the practice and his willingness to share his “secrets” were infectious to me and I’ll always have a soft spot for that.

Hard not to admire what Bjorn’s done too. Maybe I’ll try watering my trees shirtless later today

I like your testimony. I am also in VA (Charlottesville), For me, I left my 13-year career in EMS and went back to school full-time, working as a waterer at Lowe's. I unpacked a delivery of tiny trees we received overnight and pulled out a juniper procumbens, semi-cascade, and fell in love with it. I then found Josh Hoosen (Australia) on YT and began to learn about juniper bonsai. When I hit my 1-year mark in bonsai, my wife also told me 20 trees was a safe round number to manage... now it's 32 after 1 year and 1 month. My inspiration today is Bjorn, Ryan Neil, and Jelle.