Who inspires you?

[Cajunrider]

A lot of people have inspired me, many here included. There are too many to list. I usually give shout out whenever I am inspired.
And then there have been people in my life that inspired me to say: "Hold mah beer!" Well for those all I can say is that at least I got some experience so no regret.

 

[PaulH]

From the time I got serious about bonsai and still at the top of the list is Kimura.
Next was my first sensei, Mas Imazumi.
And so many more, Peter Adams, Walter Pall, Ryan, Bjorn, Peter Tea, and some amazing California artists, Sam Adina, John Thompson, Michael Roberts, Rick Trumm, Ted Matson, and my bonsai buddy Greg McDonald Who I speak bonsai to on our once or twice weekly phone calls.
I enjoy observing the work of those more skilled/talented than I and hopefully try to absorb something each time.

 

[Mikecheck123]

When it comes to specific species/styles or bonsai in general, who inspires you? Which artists push the envelope? Who are the bonsai masters all practitioners should be familiar with? Which trees should we study as prime examples of X or Y? Whose work is just plain awesome?

It's essential that we study the "finished" work of others to understand what we are developing towards. And sometimes these fly under the radar for whatever reason. For example, I only learned about Nick Lenz and his work upon his passing and the condolences shared here. Let's celebrate the names and the works that inspire and share these with others who may not yet be familiar with them so we too can be inspired.

I'll kick it off with someone my son recently made me aware of - Carlos Tramujas. He has some awesome trees, but it's his larger bonsai that are a whole other level.

That third pic makes it look like he bonsai-ed himself.

 

[Mikecheck123]

The people who actually inspire me to do and try more stuff are the people who make it look easy--so simple even a noob could do it!

Those include Mach5 and Harry Harrington.

Here's Harry's unbelievably complete progression (only took 9 years):




Ryan and Bjorn are the opposite. I look at their work and say, "Welp, I could never ever do that!"

In the Mirai nursery stock series, even though Ryan showed every single step, it still seems so far beyond my skills.

I really admire Walter Pall as well. Although he doesn't post much in the way of showing you how it's done, he certainly tells you over and over that it's just hedge pruning and defoliation.

 

[rockm]

So many inspirations, from the generations of Japanese bonsai masters, right up to all the North American bonsai pioneers...there are many for me and they're old skool, -- Chase Rosade, Bill Valavanis, Reiner Goebel, Vaughan Banting, Mary Madison, Vito Megna, Zach Smith, Harry Tomlinson, Arch Hawkins, Dale Cochoy, Don Gould, the list goes on and on.

 

[dbonsaiw]

It is amazing being introduced to so many of these people for the first time.

 

[Shogun610]

Ok I finally have a list of folks I actually reached out or met or admire their work from afar.
Bob Mahler
Sergio
Chase Rosade
Mike Hagedorn
Matt Reel
Jonas Dupuich
Peter Warren
Ryan Neil
Ian Young
Bjorn
Back Country Boys
Morten Albek
Young Choe
Yusuke Hamamoto
David Crust
Nick Lenz
Rafa Torres
Harry Harrington
Adam Jones
Todd Schlafer
Walter Pall
Suishoen
Mauro
Shinji Suzuki
Koji Hiramatsu
All the awesome ceramicists US , Europe and Japan as well
Nao
Jan Culek
Paul Katich
Chuck Iker
To name a few many more because it’s also the containers that offer inspiration as well

 

[ZombieNick]

As for artists pushing the limits, Makota Azuma is incredible.

I recently stumbled on Azuma's work and I am glad I did! Definitely doing cool stuff with living mediums.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I’m inspired by Robert Pressler taking Drummer Tommy Lee to several different Bonsai Gardens in the US on the Motley Crue tour. How amazing must it be to help Tommy find his passion in bonsai.
I’m so happy for them both!

 

[Russ1]

Peter Chan got me going but Suthin Sukosolvisit that inspired me and still does the most.
I miss driving up to his place in Stoughton MA
And I also have to mention Nick Lenz..
Of course now there are many that I admire but Suthin created some amazing works of art in a very short amount of time before it was a thing.

 

[Weta]

My seed was planted years ago, I just had to mature.

 

[thatdirtykid]

My seed was planted years ago, I just had to mature. View attachment 504509

That movie also gave me the lingering interest in tiny trees. Forums like this and some youtube finally broke down the mental barrier to entry and convinced me to give it a shot. I am a life long student of art, but horticulture has always intimidated me. I only recently had started learning much with my landscape and veggie garden. Never jumped in and tried to learn as much about those as bonsai has sparked.

I have a lot to learn regarding the whos who of the Bonsai world, so I am not great at crediting the images that inspire me to individual artists. My biggest inspiration aside from seeing what other non-professionals or aged trees that have been trained for a generation+ is just the mountains that have been my backyard my whole life. Aged bark, sparse but surviving pines, sagebrush, massive cottonwoods with hallows and deadwood and even mangled twisted and invasive russian olives have always caught my attention.

 

[Shogun610]

So many inspirations, from the generations of Japanese bonsai masters, right up to all the North American bonsai pioneers...there are many for me and they're old skool, -- Chase Rosade, Bill Valavanis, Reiner Goebel, Vaughan Banting, Mary Madison, Vito Megna, Zach Smith, Harry Tomlinson, Arch Hawkins, Dale Cochoy, Don Gould, the list goes on and on.

Yeah Zach Smith is definitely another one.. I love what he has done with American Hornbeams and more native deciduous in general.

 

[trigo]

When it comes to specific species/styles or bonsai in general, who inspires you? Which artists push the envelope? Who are the bonsai masters all practitioners should be familiar with? Which trees should we study as prime examples of X or Y? Whose work is just plain awesome?

It's essential that we study the "finished" work of others to understand what we are developing towards. And sometimes these fly under the radar for whatever reason. For example, I only learned about Nick Lenz and his work upon his passing and the condolences shared here. Let's celebrate the names and the works that inspire and share these with others who may not yet be familiar with them so we too can be inspired.

I'll kick it off with someone my son recently made me aware of - Carlos Tramujas. He has some awesome trees, but it's his larger bonsai that are a whole other level.

Very nice to see an artist from Brazil getting recognition. I've been to Tramujas bonsai nursery this past month, he is the biggest bonsai grower in south america, lot's of very nice material there, and those trees that you posted, i saw them in person, they are huge and awesome.