Talk to me about triangles.

[dbonsaiw]

For me, when it comes to principles of design, discussions about triangles beg the more fundamental question of where do the branches go. That is, any tree can be hedge pruned to form a triangular canopy, or whatever shape one wants. The design of the tree is in the branch placement (and how that relates to the trunk and then to nebari).

I am capable of hedge trimming my trees into shapes. "Designing" my trees, not so much. I'm lost in the sauce. Most of my bonsai time is spent starring at the trees for long periods of time trying to understand where the branches should be and how the tree should develop from there.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I wouldn't use that particular book as an example of good bonsai design. Many of the trees in it are moderately good examples, at best, and some are truly sticks in pots.

This thread made me look up some old threads we had started about the divine proportion and Fibonacci sequences as they apply to bonsai design. It touches on the pentagon and golden triangle.

Design: The Divine Proportion and natural sequences

Golden Mean Case Study #1

Golden Mean Case Study #2

You beat me to this!

 

[BobbyLane]

For me, when it comes to principles of design, discussions about triangles beg the more fundamental question of where do the branches go. That is, any tree can be hedge pruned to form a triangular canopy, or whatever shape one wants. The design of the tree is in the branch placement (and how that relates to the trunk and then to nebari).

I am capable of hedge trimming my trees into shapes. "Designing" my trees, not so much. I'm lost in the sauce. Most of my bonsai time is spent starring at the trees for long periods of time trying to understand where the branches should be and how the tree should develop from there.

mirai delves into that pretty deeply. pretty much on each styling stream. the article I shared above, touches on branch placement but not deeply. I always say to people, all the info is out there, you just have to be dedicated to finding it.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

And you know, as much as we plan, I'll be damned, my trees never seem to read the same books. They never quite do what I want them to do.

You still end up working with whatever the tree does.

 

[ShadyStump]

And you know, as much as we plan, I'll be damned, my trees never seem to read the same books. They never quite do what I want them to do.

You still end up working with whatever the tree does.

Soook much that!

A tree that looks forced will always look poor, doesn't matter how triangular you make it.

 

[Cajunrider]

Since you just ask us to talk about triangles. Here is my favorite triangle.
You can call me anything, just don't call me late for dinner.

 

[BobbyLane]

And you know, as much as we plan, I'll be damned, my trees never seem to read the same books. They never quite do what I want them to do.

You still end up working with whatever the tree does.

I beg to differ, I think the knowledge, information, images, design concepts etc we absorb along the way, do contribute in one way or another. you might not always need everything youve seen in a book or article, but there will be some things that stick with you and can draw upon some day...

this beech as an example, it wasnt really a case of working with whatever the tree does, that can definitely be applied on many trees, there will also be trees that present different options, that require some moulding, some vision. sometimes there will be more than one decent option, ive had many trees like that