Halfway through styling my first Shimpaku
- Thread starter SockUnicorn
- Start date
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Looks like you are trying to make a combination wind swept/cascade?
SockUnicorn
Shohin
Trying is a complicated term for me in bonsai. I have no intentions when I begin my work. I read every tree differently and work as I go.
I wouldn't say that I am targeting a style at all, though I do agree with you that those two categories describe it best right now.
I wouldn't say that I am targeting a style at all, though I do agree with you that those two categories describe it best right now.
SockUnicorn
Shohin
Seemingly a big different after cleaning and wiring.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Having no intentions when you begin styling must make the task complicated indeed. Sounds like a risky approach.
SockUnicorn
Shohin
Let me know what you think of the photo above!
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Based on the first photo and being half done.... I hope the left half turns out better than the right half.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
I think this is very typical of styling work done by someone new to the hobby. Most of us started here. If you’re sensitive, quit reading here. If you really want to know what I think, read on.
It makes no sense to have a dead left side moving right, while also having live branches on the right moving left. It makes no sense to have all the foliage out at the tips, when the left side is dead. If you look at some trees in harsh conditions, that have naturally died back, almost all the growth is concentrated closer to the trunk, not farther from it. Young straight branches don’t suggest any kind of struggle, neither do jinned fine branches. They wouldn’t last long.
I don’t think this is easy material, nor very promising. However, did you dig down into the soil to find the base? That’s the best place to start any tree. But, that requires working intentionally.
Even if you don’t set out with any intentions, realize that when you show your work, you are expressing something. Bonsai should be approached intentionally, since it is a visual art. Are you trying to express that you don't care or that you’re avant-garde? Do you appreciate the work of those who have studied Bonsai with the best in the world? If so, do you think those people start work with no intentions? Do you think those people would be impressed by this effort?
If you want to work intentionally, keep studying really good trees and seek to understand how they’re different from the one in your photo: strong trunks, dynamic movement, deadwood as a story-teller, branches that suggest age and grace, foliage to frame the whole picture; clean and tidy work.
How could you incorporate some of these characteristics into this tree? How about starting with the base, then minimizing the deadwood to a statement or suggestion, twisting the trunks with wire, compacting the design with bends, cutting away the outside growth instead of the inside growth, giving the branches some movement and consistent direction, tidying up the undersides of the foliage pads. These are all very intentional steps.
Nanuk
Shohin
Is that one side dead or did you remove the foliage?
SockUnicorn
Shohin
I really appreciate the feedback! I didn't cut away any inside growth. This tree was just kind of goofy this way.
As far as the deadwood goes. Yes, I agree with you, and clearly, it's not dead yet. I like to leave myself with more up front since I am a beginner, and take back more when I feel comfortable. So the deadwood is going to be reduced quite a bit.
Although I don't approach my trees by treeing to fit them into an idea, I do take consistent intentional steps to work on them.
Like the title says this is my first Shimpaku Styling ever, I dont think it's the worst first Juniper, nor do I think it's the best. Appreciate the writeup though!
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I remember when I first started, there were no accessible teachers, no INTERNET, Youtube or Face Book. You learned by doing and reading what few books on bonsai you could find. You realized that, or thought that your trees and efforts would improve with time and that they would eventually look like bonsai in a hundred years or so and you were only doing this for posterity. Understand that some or many of these books were not written with the intentions of making a competent bonsai grower of you, just someone who bought a book and might buy some supplies from them. Only recently have the masters of bonsai relented on revealing the real secrets of bonsai and the fine points of its art to us in the West. Nothing in bonsai happens by itself over time. Bonsai is the result of time technique, observation and practice directed at a goal.
SockUnicorn
Shohin
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Actually this is not too bad and has promise if you don't kill it through kindness.
Better!
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Good improvement. I’d keep going just a little more...
Japonicus
Imperial Masterpiece
Took the horse by the reins Heck yeh!
If you don't like the direction of a wired branch now, don't suddenly change your mind and reverse.
Not a good year to repot now, but I'm sure it is working up quite an appetite.
Careful to leave any signs of green life further back on branches and CUT the wires off where you see any
when it's time. Nice turn around
If you don't like the direction of a wired branch now, don't suddenly change your mind and reverse.
Not a good year to repot now, but I'm sure it is working up quite an appetite.
Careful to leave any signs of green life further back on branches and CUT the wires off where you see any
when it's time. Nice turn around
SockUnicorn
Shohin
Thanks for the feedback my dudes!
Japonicus
Imperial Masterpiece
You're good at that ya know? I mean the sketch up,
and windswept is terribly difficult to master I hear.
SockUnicorn
Shohin
Yeah that was quality. I didn't listen ??.
On the third day God said, let there be pad formation. I think I'm going to stop touching it for now. There are still things that could move or go but im not readyyyy.
On the third day God said, let there be pad formation. I think I'm going to stop touching it for now. There are still things that could move or go but im not readyyyy.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Just when you thought it was safe to post on this site again: You need to seriously work on your wiring skills. Go to CRAFTSY and look up bonsai, you will find some free classes on wiring.
Similar threads
