Acer palmatum sharp's pygmy [#07]
- Thread starter MACH5
- Start date
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks Sergio! I'm glad to hear everyone else loves the tree too.
I also found it interesting that the Japanese artist and the artist highly trained by the Japanese both loved the tree, and even spoke about the tree being showable in Japan in the future... While the Western artist/s loved the tree but said that it wouldn't show in Japan. -- I feel like there is a lot of bias in the Western bonsai world, and we think there's a lot less to Japanese bonsai than there really is. Maybe I just look at too many bonsai on line and in books, but I think too many people have a very narrow view of what bonsai looks like in areas outside of their box.. lol.
I agree Dan. It is doing a great disservice to generalize Japanese bonsai or any other country or continent. Seeing Japanese bonsai first hand, I can say that I encountered examples where the trees were very naturalistic and far away from the so called green helmets. Yes there are certain stylistic commonalities and tendencies due to culture as it also happens elsewhere. But to call Japanese bonsai cookie cutter and boring is a big misrepresentation in my opinion.
FWIW I have myself subscribed to the Bruce Lee philosophy. He was like water, formless and shapeless. Adopt and stay open and fluid. I like to take the very best of bonsai regardless of provenance and try and make it my own.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
I was finally able to take some photos and update this thread. Some changes have been taking place. The apex, for example, has been edited and I am slowly guiding it towards the right although perhaps not so noticeable in the photo. Some other branches have been cut back, most notably the lowest left branch to open up that area more and avoid a too symmetrical balance with the one on the right. Some light wiring was also done recently. The last photo shows a 3 year time comparison which shows the tree now with a wider and more rounded canopy. The tree was sprayed with a solution of lime sulphur for the winter, hence its white appearance.
ajm55555
Chumono
- Messages
- 702
- Reaction score
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- USDA Zone
- 7b
Really beautiful. I like the fine ramification, the nebari and its sleek trunk. It's like watching a big one in nature. Congratulations Sergio!
AlainK
Imperial Masterpiece
Remarkable!
fredman
Masterpiece
Fantastic. It looks so happy and proud in its sleek natural flowing lines. Few words does it justice...only awe.
dirk hoorelbeke
Omono
fantastic evolution. Thanks for showing. For spraying with lime sulfer, what dilution do you use and do you cover the soil?
Lars Grimm
Chumono
Wonderful tree Sergio. What is your thought process regarding the first branch that appears to be coming directly towards the front?
Don Blackmond
Omono
Looks great, especially with the black background. That's 3 productive years too. I like the apex development, though its a little strong at this time. Nice work.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Well Fantastic, Remarkable, Beautiful, Wonderful, Outstanding and Great are already taken....so I guess I'll have to go with the standby of
Awesome.
Part of me wants to see the tree turned a little to the clockwise, I don't know why. Great work Serg.
Awesome.
Part of me wants to see the tree turned a little to the clockwise, I don't know why. Great work Serg.
Giga
Masterpiece
Your maples are the best because the resemble nature and not an artificial look that a lot of people give flat pads to there maples. Yours grow up and out like they should! So very very very nice!
Me too, i think its because of that lowest branch coming straight at you, i wish that branch would be a little bit higher on the trunk. The tree could benefit from a little more branching/foliage in front, apart from the low branch its a bit too much of a clear line to the apex to me.
I still love this tree.
fredtruck
Omono
Very elegant tree.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Thank you all for your comments! Much appreciated. 
Thanks Dirk! About 3:1 ratio water to LS. It was sprayed and then the nebari was finished off with a brush. I do this as a winter spray on some trees but I like the way it looks too. I am noticing now that the lower part is beginning to form the signature bark striations so typical of older trees. It will be a very long time from now that it will appear along the entire length of the trunk.
Thanks Dirk! About 3:1 ratio water to LS. It was sprayed and then the nebari was finished off with a brush. I do this as a winter spray on some trees but I like the way it looks too. I am noticing now that the lower part is beginning to form the signature bark striations so typical of older trees. It will be a very long time from now that it will appear along the entire length of the trunk.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Good question Lars. I have thought a lot about this branch. Cannot cut it off since it will flatten the image. A solution would be to turn the tree slightly. I will have to look at this in the spring. I remember looking very carefully at other angles and it seemed to me that they would degrade the image. I need to look again. It does not bother me when I look at the entire image in front of me but I know based on the rules is a no no. Is this a case of successful rule braking??
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Don yes probably. I am looking to thin it out again in the spring. I need some areas there to back bud and hopefully that would do it. Thanks!
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks Gigs! I try as much as possible to look at trees in nature almost as much as I love looking at bonsai. All sorts of wonderful surprises you notice when you look at the way branches grow. They do teach you a lot.
Back in the day when I was doing paintings, a teacher said to me as I was doing a portrait of someone, to not paint what I think I know but what is actually in front of me. It taught me a good lesson that I have tried to carry a bit of that into bonsai.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks DJ! It is not quite a straight look into the length of the trunk as you might expect. Look at pics of this tree in leaf and see how much it gets covered in front. I do think though that a few small areas would benefit from a bit more ramification. But only time will allow me that.
