Hobbyist, Technician or Artist ?

[Anthony]

Reading all these various discussions, I began to wonder how many actually
ponder where they might fit in, and if they intend to grow more or less.

I am a hobbyist, I tend to simple trees. The designs are drawn first and then
as a challenge, a seed is grown into a shape.
I weed and water, have not an artistic bone in my body, though I like to believe
I can appreciate the finer things of life.

Plus for us, in about ten years or so, the tree outgrows the design and until,
we don't bring holographic equipment on-line, it is all lost with time.
Mind you we use the hobby for health and inspiration.

How about those who get into deep discussion on all thing Horticultural,
and the design is just a copy of what they saw before ?
Tons of talking about soil mixes, wiring, or the latest way to flare the root etc.
The Technicians.

Then there are the rare few, who create just beauty.
Some I understand get rid of the plant as it peaks in Design.
I don't understand this type, so I don't have much to type.
The Artist.

Aside -
I will say this much, watching the size of the Bonsai being shown , I shall
be watching to see who, has hernias, heart problems and various physical damage.
There is a reason we dally around 15 to 18 inches of height.
Merry Christmas
Anthony

 

[Dav4]

All of the above.

 

[sorce]

A hobbyist, a technician, and an artist walk into a bar......

Sorce

 

[Dav4]

A hobbyist, a technician, and an artist walk into a bar......

Sorce

We'd all be drinking IPAs

 

[Adair M]

Reading all these various discussions, I began to wonder how many actually
ponder where they might fit in, and if they intend to grow more or less.

I am a hobbyist, I tend to simple trees. The designs are drawn first and then
as a challenge, a seed is grown into a shape.
I weed and water, have not an artistic bone in my body, though I like to believe
I can appreciate the finer things of life.

Plus for us, in about ten years or so, the tree outgrows the design and until,
we don't bring holographic equipment on-line, it is all lost with time.
Mind you we use the hobby for health and inspiration.

How about those who get into deep discussion on all thing Horticultural,
and the design is just a copy of what they saw before ?
Tons of talking about soil mixes, wiring, or the latest way to flare the root etc.
The Technicians.

Then there are the rare few, who create just beauty.
Some I understand get rid of the plant as it peaks in Design.
I don't understand this type, so I don't have much to type.
The Artist.

Aside -
I will say this much, watching the size of the Bonsai being shown , I shall
be watching to see who, has hernias, heart problems and various physical damage.
There is a reason we dally around 15 to 18 inches of height.
Merry Christmas
Anthony

“Until the tree outgrows the design”

Bonsai is more than just creating a miniature tree. It it maintaining it! Keeping “the design” over many years. Sure, they can get overgrown, but knowing how to cut back, restore, renew, and rejuvenate the tree to maintain its diminutive size, that takes skill! Trees are not static. They will change over time. The leaves will fall. Branches may die. The trunk, however, is the soul of the tree. Our job is to present the trunk to its best advantage.

 

[bonsai-ben]

Collector. I do work my trees, but most I did not originally style. I continue their style and vision for the tree when possible.... I've never liked the "artist" phrase even if I paint. Seemed cheeky. But collecting cool trees is what I do and keeping them cool is the art of the deal

 

[Zach Smith]

These are fun topics. Maybe bonsai is a hobby pursued by technicians seeking to produce works of art. That way we don't miss out on anything.

The changing is one of the best parts. The trees want to do things differently than our desires. So we chastise with shears and pruners and oft-flawed vision.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Anthony, you forgot to mention womanizer. I'm that and a hobbyist. Yup, without a lot of thought, I consider myself a hobbyist.

 

[just.wing.it]

I like what @Zach Smith said, that seems to fit me.

 

[chicago1980]

A hobbyist, a technician, and an artist walk into a bar......

Sorce

Thread/Done

 

[chicago1980]

We'd all be drinking IPAs

Ouch IPA. I'm a Belgium and German beer guy myself.

 

[bonsaidave]

Hobbyist but only just. Give me twenty years and I might figure out how to make a decent looking bonsai.

If you sit and drink all day people say you are an alcoholic or a drunk. If you sit and drink all day while working on tiny trees they will call you a crazy drun... Artist!

 

[Anthony]

@Adair M ,
Sifu,

you missed the key word ------------- Design

It isn't a miniature tree, though it can look like one -------- it is a Design.
That's what links it to ART.

This is also why I speak of Chinese work as intellectual and Japanese work as Horticulture.
Any sensitivity to design - negative. positive spaces, composition, mass...........
will be thrown off or out by changes in thickness or other.

An Artist will sense the changes and know the Design is done/gone.
A Technician will keep trying to cut/ wire etc.
A Hobbyist may not even reach that level. Blissful ignorance.
Thanks for responding.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[M. Frary]

I'm a hack!

 

[Dav4]

Ouch IPA. I'm a Belgium and German beer guy myself.

I can and have consumed those as well, and am likely to do so in the future... the first beer I ever bought was Heineken when I was in Paris with my Sophomore high school class. I just won't be buying them in a bar if a decent IPA is available

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Horticultarist for 80 percent, for 15 technician, 1 percent artist and the rest might be hobby...

 

[Lazylightningny]

I'm still working on horticulturalist!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

We'd all be drinking IPAs

I'm a lager fan...

 

[Dav4]

I'm a lager fan...

Brrrppp!!

 

[Carol 83]

when I was in Paris with my Sophomore high school class

Geez, what kind of high school did you go to? We went to 6 Flags.