Credibility thread, this is where you get to post and shine.

[Smoke]

@Forsoothe, I’m sure I’m the Last Person you want a critique from, but I want to critique this display on several levels, for the benefit of the other forum readers. If you care to benefit from it, too, all the better. If not, your loss.

First off, the display. Tons and tons of repeating elements. Square mat, square stand, square pot, square accent pot square accent jita. It’s just too much straight lines and hard angles.

Accent placement: I can’t really see where the trunk comes from out of the pot (heck, I can’t even see the trunk!), but the apex is over in the left. As is most of the mass of foliage. So, assuming the movement is from right to left, why is the accent on the right? It would be better placed on the left where your eye would move from the base of the trunk (if it could be seen) up to the top if the foliage mass, then follow the curve of the cascade branch down to the accent which stops the eye.

Stand: ive never before seen a pedestal stand used with bonsai in a display. Monkey poles in the garden, yes. As a formal display? I don’t remember ever seeing one before. It’s different, for sure. It’s certainly not “Japanese”. Feels more “Roman”.

The pot looks like a quality pot. I’m not a fan of tall cascade pots. But some are.

The tree. I’ve already mentioned I can’t see the trunk. You say it needs “tweaking”. Yes it does! Tweaks on steroids! It needs “styling”. To me, it looks like a ground cover juniper I can buy at any garden center, pulled out of the black plastic pot, and stuffed straight into that cascade pot. I see no evidence art, style, form, or anything.

I’m just calling it as I see it.

Here’s a cascade I’ve done:



View attachment 308522

It's a telephone stand. Probably many of them at the second hand store....

 

[Mayank]

Here's a nice Bloodgood...
View attachment 308339
And a Chinese Juniper...
View attachment 308340
Just so happens that another virtual show is coming up at the end of this month and my camera will be working overtime. I'll be back.

Here's a nice Bloodgood...
View attachment 308339
And a Chinese Juniper...
View attachment 308340
Just so happens that another virtual show is coming up at the end of this month and my camera will be working overtime. I'll be back.

Love that Juniper, Forsoothe. It looks much better than when I saw it at the Hidden Lakes show in 2015. Wasn't that the tree you were working on with Todd at that workshop?
Here is one of my earliest trees/penjings. That is all I have on my work computer at this time. I'll post others later.

 

[Arcto]

@Forsoothe, I’m sure I’m the Last Person you want a critique from, but I want to critique this display on several levels, for the benefit of the other forum readers. If you care to benefit from it, too, all the better. If not, your loss.

First off, the display. Tons and tons of repeating elements. Square mat, square stand, square pot, square accent pot square accent jita. It’s just too much straight lines and hard angles.

Accent placement: I can’t really see where the trunk comes from out of the pot (heck, I can’t even see the trunk!), but the apex is over in the left. As is most of the mass of foliage. So, assuming the movement is from right to left, why is the accent on the right? It would be better placed on the left where your eye would move from the base of the trunk (if it could be seen) up to the top if the foliage mass, then follow the curve of the cascade branch down to the accent which stops the eye.

Stand: ive never before seen a pedestal stand used with bonsai in a display. Monkey poles in the garden, yes. As a formal display? I don’t remember ever seeing one before. It’s different, for sure. It’s certainly not “Japanese”. Feels more “Roman”.

The pot looks like a quality pot. I’m not a fan of tall cascade pots. But some are.

The tree. I’ve already mentioned I can’t see the trunk. You say it needs “tweaking”. Yes it does! Tweaks on steroids! It needs “styling”. To me, it looks like a ground cover juniper I can buy at any garden center, pulled out of the black plastic pot, and stuffed straight into that cascade pot. I see no evidence art, style, form, or anything.

I’m just calling it as I see it.

Here’s a cascade I’ve done:



View attachment 308522

Gee @Adair M , I noticed a tuft of yellow green needles on the right side of your apex. . Fair being fair.. you are welcome to critique the Lodgepole I posted earlier. I realize it was only a first style and lots more work needed on it. I lean to the naturalistic side of things and you to the more traditional. But I’m a curious guy. I will respectfully ask folks not to go after Adair if he gives me a critique beat down. Here is a Mt. Hemlock I redid this past spring I call Krummholz style.

 

[Smoke]

Slowing down....
18,306 members
21 people posted a picture of a tree

 

[Djtommy]

Gee @Adair M , I noticed a tuft of yellow green needles on the right side of your apex. . Fair being fair.. you are welcome to critique the Lodgepole I posted earlier. I realize it was only a first style and lots more work needed on it. I lean to the naturalistic side of things and you to the more traditional. But I’m a curious guy. I will respectfully ask folks not to go after Adair if he gives me a critique beat down. Here is a Mt. Hemlock I redid this past spring I call Krummholz style.
View attachment 308543

This is very cool stuff. I think the problem with this type of styling is that because of the scale, the line between it looking like a tree and looking like a bush is very thin. I think your starting to be at the wrong side of the line.

 

[Smoke]

This is very cool stuff. I think the problem with this type of styling is that because of the scale, the line between it looking like a tree and looking like a bush is very thin. I think your starting to be at the wrong side of the line.

Once again you should read the first post about the rules of this thread. It was asked, but obviously not enforced that to earn a right to talk about others trees, you have to post up a tree of your own. I now know this thread is four pages long and people just come into it and post without regard for those that did step out of their comfort zone and post a tree.

In this thread, if you have the balls, post up your best tree, in fact if you have them, post up your best three.

I can ask, but no one will listen, if you post no tree, please do not comment. I/we are not interested in your rhetoric. You wish not to join in with your best work, then stay silent, you have not earned a place to comment on someone else's tree.

This is the honor system, It only works if your honest

 

[Adair M]

Good thread. I’ll play. My work from wild lands to now. Lodgepole Pine, only one of 3 to survive borer attack before collection. This fall, I’ll be redoing. Probably a new front from the current back.View attachment 308355

By invitation...

This tree has good potential. Needs some cleaning up.

The pot “feels” too small. Especially since the height of the root ball is uneven, and it’s mounded. I just don’t think it’s ready for a pot this small. Yet.

So with literati, the trunk line is the primary focus. You have an interesting trunk. But the composition feels cluttered. Are those long hanging dead liw branches adding to or hindering the upward flow of the trunk? They look really thin, they’ll probably fall off in the next strong wind. The shorter “snags” look more like a permanent feature. I’d keep them.

Moving up to where the sharp turn to the left is...
Again it’s cluttered. There’s a little twig coming right out of the crotch. It’s probably not going to live long. There’s a drop branch. Interesting, but it’s hidden behind some foliage that appears to come down off the bottom? or back/bottom, and has been wired to come under and back against the flow to eventually obscure a bit of the trunk? All I can say is “no”. It’s super contrived. And messy.

I think the tree needs that branch to stay, for health, but direct it to the back, not the front. Maybe later remove it.

Moving up to the apex: That last couple of inches that move back to the right making it a “C” shape ruin the movement of the trunk. The apex would be improved by simply cutting that section off.

I haven’t mentioned the deadwood second trunk. The only thing I don’t like about it is how it creates that “pinch” of reverse taper right at the nebari. I think it will be more dramatic to have it once the “clutter” I mentioned above has been addressed.

I think this tree has the potential to become a wonderful literati, and the main challenge is going to keep it healthy. You need enough foliage to feed the roots, and vice versa. It already looks “old”, so it’s now just a matter of simplifying the flow.

Here’s a literati juniper I’m working on:

 

[Adair M]

This is very cool stuff. I think the problem with this type of styling is that because of the scale, the line between it looking like a tree and looking like a bush is very thin. I think your starting to be at the wrong side of the line.

Good point. That cascade is really not “show ready” although I did show it! Lol!!! The bonsai show was held in conjunction with the local koi club, and I had that awesome stand with fish sculptures, and that was the best tree I had that worked with the stand.

That was the initial styling of that exposed root JWP cascade. When I got it, it was really leggy, so I had to “crunch” it back. And, you res ally can’t see the exposed roots from the picture. You can see them better in person, but, the foliage does obscure them too much.

Here’s a Shohin JBP cascade:

 

[Clorgan]

I know what you're thinking...I must have had help with these? No seriously, all my own work, 100% me! Better still, there's 3 in there!!!

What's that? They're not trees?! Ahh dang you caught me.

I'm just messing, spreading the joy, providing the bants, lightening the mood.

Feel free to get this deleted. I've had a few beers, I'll have probably forgotten about it in 10 mins

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Here’s a Shohin JBP cascade:

View attachment 308568

This is interesting- you set your cascades on blocks of wood. I may need to use this idea.

Coming back to life- wlf

 

[Adair M]

This is interesting- you set your cascades on blocks of wood. I may need to use this idea.

Coming back to life- wlf

Or a brick or two. I have trees strapped down, too. You can buy sets of strapping that can be cut to length and the buckles on Amazon.

 

[Smoke]

I know what you're thinking...I must have had help with these? No seriously, all my own work, 100% me! Better still, there's 3 in there!!!

What's that? They're not trees?! Ahh dang you caught me.

I'm just messing, spreading the joy, providing the bants, lightening the mood.

Feel free to get this deleted. I've had a few beers, I'll have probably forgotten about it in 10 mins

Thanks, I expected nothing less.....
Somebody told me if you put smile faces in your post your good to go.

 

[Clorgan]

Thanks, I expected nothing less.....
Somebody told me if you put smile faces in your post your good to go.

Aw there you go, feels good to smile doesn't it?

 

[penumbra]

You can buy sets of strapping that can be cut to length and the buckles on Amazon

Do they have them in tree bark camo?

 

[just.wing.it]

Well, I have better material....but this is my best tree, because its been with me since my first month trying to create bonsai, in 2015.
Its been through more wiring and styling, pruning and repotting, that any of my others.
I'm currently letting it grow out for the summer, before it goes back indoors for winter.
I know its not a real tree, but I think its currently my best offering for this thread.
Glad to have you back @Smoke!

Here is my Spekboom in 2015 upon arrival in the mail.
I removed bar branches and did some crude newbie wiring.


And today, the trunk has gone from 5/16" to over 1" thick.

Hard to get decent pictures of the branches.
Hope yall like it!
Its a fun tree.

Edit: One flaw that I made in the design is the fact that, from my chosen front, the first (lowest) branch is a back branch......oooopss. Live and learn.....can always change fronts.

 

[Smoke]

Aw there you go, feels good to smile doesn't it?

While I'm at this site, you couldn't pry the smile off my face, in fact, sometimes it's hysterical laughter at what gets posted in the name of bonsai.

 

[Clorgan]

While I'm at this site, you couldn't pry the smile off my face, in fact, sometimes it's hysterical laughter at what gets posted in the name of bonsai.

So happy you're having a good time!

 

[Djtommy]

Once again you should read the first post about the rules of this thread. It was asked, but obviously not enforced that to earn a right to talk about others trees, you have to post up a tree of your own. I now know this thread is four pages long and people just come into it and post without regard for those that did step out of their comfort zone and post a tree.




This is the honor system, It only works if your honest

You know what Al, I did read that but I didn’t post a tree for a few reasons.
1) If My own trees make someone question what I say and want to see trees from me, it’s very easy to look some up here https://www.bonsainut.com/search/319057/
I actually do that sometimes when I see comments from someone that I may not agree with.
granted not everyone posts here though. I truly wonder why you have never posted a tree in that thread. nothing Comes up when I search your name in that thread anyway. any personal problem you never wanted to post there before?

that said, your thread so I should acknowledge the little rule you made but

2) also I wanted to check if you actually read what I post since I Thought the styling of your tree on page 1 must have been inspired by this here below so you passed.

edit, I actually forgot to put a tree now...
one that isn’t actually ready yet for a critique but ok

 

[Djtommy]

Good point. That cascade is really not “show ready” although I did show it! Lol!!! The bonsai show was held in conjunction with the local koi club, and I had that awesome stand with fish sculptures, and that was the best tree I had that worked with the stand.

That was the initial styling of that exposed root JWP cascade. When I got it, it was really leggy, so I had to “crunch” it back. And, you res ally can’t see the exposed roots from the picture. You can see them better in person, but, the foliage does obscure them too much.

Here’s a Shohin JBP cascade:

View attachment 308568

My comment was in arctos hemlock though, not on yours.
fwiw, i think you did quit an awesome job on the white pine cascade.in post 59. I assume you thought i was commenting on this tree before. weather someone like this look or not is preference but Its well done if you ask me. The trunk is actually still visible so it doesn’t bother me much you can not see it more clearly.seeing more of the base would
not be bad.

 

[Arcto]

By invitation...

This tree has good potential. Needs some cleaning up.

The pot “feels” too small. Especially since the height of the root ball is uneven, and it’s mounded. I just don’t think it’s ready for a pot this small. Yet.

So with literati, the trunk line is the primary focus. You have an interesting trunk. But the composition feels cluttered. Are those long hanging dead liw branches adding to or hindering the upward flow of the trunk? They look really thin, they’ll probably fall off in the next strong wind. The shorter “snags” look more like a permanent feature. I’d keep them.

Moving up to where the sharp turn to the left is...
Again it’s cluttered. There’s a little twig coming right out of the crotch. It’s probably not going to live long. There’s a drop branch. Interesting, but it’s hidden behind some foliage that appears to come down off the bottom? or back/bottom, and has been wired to come under and back against the flow to eventually obscure a bit of the trunk? All I can say is “no”. It’s super contrived. And messy.

I think the tree needs that branch to stay, for health, but direct it to the back, not the front. Maybe later remove it.

Moving up to the apex: That last couple of inches that move back to the right making it a “C” shape ruin the movement of the trunk. The apex would be improved by simply cutting that section off.

I haven’t mentioned the deadwood second trunk. The only thing I don’t like about it is how it creates that “pinch” of reverse taper right at the nebari. I think it will be more dramatic to have it once the “clutter” I mentioned above has been addressed.

I think this tree has the potential to become a wonderful literati, and the main challenge is going to keep it healthy. You need enough foliage to feed the roots, and vice versa. It already looks “old”, so it’s now just a matter of simplifying the flow.

Here’s a literati juniper I’m working on:

View attachment 308567

Thanks for taking the time to give a detailed critique. I’m looking forward to working the tree again later this year. I’ll keep your comments in mind when I do.