Which front would you pick?

[bonsaibp]

Here is another CA Juniper I'm going to do the first styling on. I've already decided on a bunjin type tree. Here it is before any work.

A close up of some cool natural shari- one of the many reasons I love CA Junipers.

So I cleaned up a bunch of unusable small branches, cut one big limb and marked out the life lines as they exist or will be created.
I'll post the choices next.

 

[bonsaibp]

The numbers are only for id there is no signifigance to the order.
Here is the whole tree and the base from each choice.

Another possibility

Still another

 

[bonsaibp]

The last two choices

Here are the last two. Just so you all know the top is flexible enough that I could move it around almost wherever I want- within reason.

Last one.

 

[ChrisV]

number 3 looking at the nebari and shari
Oh and separate the live vein and deadwood and bend the whole upper part down.

 

[JudyB]

First choice for me is #4 second would be #3. Nice tree bob.

 

[ChrisV]

4 is also interesting but the big jin will come towards you which is less attractive

 

[Dav4]

Great tree. For me, front 4 is the best. The nebari is, to my eye, best from this angle. Also, the life lines look best from here as well as they wrap around the shari low down on the trunk, and the trunk movement from top to bottom is exceptional...very cool.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

4 all day long...
you could sell me on 3, but would have to lighten up that chunk of deadwood on the right side coming off the trunk.

 

[bonsaibp]

Thanks for all the input, it's interesting how people see things differently.
3 is not bad except that the shari on the trunk looks like it's separating from the tree and looks unstable. All of the heavier jins will be removed or reduced. 2 is also pretty good, especially from the base- there are some nice twists and turns in the lifeline. But you do lose the whole shari thats visible in 4.
4 is most likely the choice, the base is not as strong as in 3 but the deadwood and live veins are most interesting from here. The top of the tree is going away from me here but some raffia, heavy wire and elbow grease can take care of that.
I'll be doing some more week on this during the week and will post the results.

 

[bonsaibp]

number 3 looking at the nebari and shari
Oh and separate the live vein and deadwood and bend the whole upper part down.

Bend the upper part down to where?

 

[PaulH]

I like the spiral live vein in #3 but # 4 is just a little more interesting.

 

[Beng]

Definitely 4

 

[Jason_mazzy]

I reserve judgment until styling has begun.

 

[buddhamonk]

I have several RMJ like this one. While the foliage is ok on big trees, it's really hard to get a realistic bonsai with a small tree. I grafted all of mine with shimpaku. Very easy to do...

nvm i see this is a california juniper. probably better foliage but still, shimpaku foliage on that trunk would look outstanding

 

[discusmike]

I would go with # 3

 

[Poink88]

#4 jumped at me.

 

[bonsaibp]

I have several RMJ like this one. While the foliage is ok on big trees, it's really hard to get a realistic bonsai with a small tree. I grafted all of mine with shimpaku. Very easy to do...

nvm i see this is a california juniper. probably better foliage but still, shimpaku foliage on that trunk would look outstanding

I'm not a fan of grafting shimpaku on CA's- I like their natural foliage. Not saying others shouldn't do it but I'm just not a fan. For me the lush foliage doesn't go with the story of harshness that the deadwood suggests.

 

[bonsaibp]

I would go with # 3

Why?......

 

[bonsaibp]

New possibilities

So I spent some time trimming and cleaning up the existing deadwood as well as the new shari's and jins I added. The life lines on this tree are really easy to follow. The last time the consensus was to choose side 4 as the front. Now that the deadwood is more apparent I wonder if the choices will stay the same. What is your choice now?

Side 1

Side 2

Side 3

Side 4 the previous choice

 

[dkraft81]

4 is nice but I lean towards 3 for the front. You get a nice flare at the base, and I like the twist in the live vein.