Windswept Kishu Shimpaku

[A Random User]

No offense taken. I was just messing around on MS paint to see how it'd look. The idea of the tree is to have it feel like its hovering over a cliff or large rock. I will be searching for a pot in the future to emulate that feeling.

I am not faulting you or your Virtual skills obviously.
This why we do them!
It is amazing sometimes how the slightest changes can totally alter a feel.

 

[Tieball]

It is possible to actually have a windswept tree that isn't all contorted and bent over...
You know... one that doesn't actually take it to the extreme? I mean... are there not trees
that perhaps portray a sense of the range between slightly Windswept... and well... Falling Over?

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My own Personal View???
Next Time, just don't actually tell people it is a Windswept... This way you can design it as you see fit.
And you will not have to have arguments over whether or not someone thinks it is Windswept enough.

The deadwood top does not bother me...
I do not think it has to be necessarily bent over to play the part. And in fact... I actually like that it does not.
If any change was to be made, I would actually suggest one bend it in the opposite direction, slightly To the right.
So as to not necessarily be straight. Your tree has angles... this section does not. Bending it to either side, adds an angle.
Bending it to the right adds interest.

What bothers me... is the Terrible Virtual. Sorry, not trying to be mean... But it and the concept of the pot, totally change the
whole feel of the tree. The picture right above almost looks like a totally different tree, and a much nicer tree. It took me a moment to
figure out what makes it look not so good... and it is the negative spacing between the bottom branch and the trunk. In the virt it has tons...
in the picture above it has none. I would opt for the none... the pot sticking up, almost feels like a large rock or boulder that the tree is just
slightly hovering over. Just my buck fifty.

Good points...especially about the bent over part. I see what you mean when I reexamine the tree.

 

[M. Frary]

I've had numerous windswept bonsai.
When the wind swept them off of the bench.

 

[justBonsai]

I've had numerous windswept bonsai.
When the wind swept them off of the bench.

Last time there were strong enough winds to sweep away trees where I live was before I got into bonsai

 

[justBonsai]

This tree is still quite a while away from going into a bonsai pot. Next year I will begin adjusting the root ball to accommodate the angle change. Does anyone know where I can get good rock pots or slabs though?

 

[Tieball]

@bleumeon
I had your windswept concept in mind while I was researching factors that limit the growth of a tree....how a tree redonda to certain missing nutrients.....AND.....I stumbled onto this article that might be of interest to your windswept mind.

https://rawbonsai.wordpress.com/
A life collecting wild bonsai

Scroll down a ways....there is an article about windswept design. Now...the author is styling a Larch I know....but many of the concepts and directions can apply to where you're heading with your Shimpaku tree.

Way at the top....you scrolled past this article is a story about: Bonsai growth - Single Limiting Factors. That's the article I was searching for on nutrient limititations. Overall, this author has a number of excellent articles really. Made me think a lot while reading. You might want to give this blog a good reading.

 

[justBonsai]

@bleumeon
I had your windswept concept in mind while I was researching factors that limit the growth of a tree....how a tree redonda to certain missing nutrients.....AND.....I stumbled onto this article that might be of interest to your windswept mind.

https://rawbonsai.wordpress.com/
A life collecting wild bonsai

Scroll down a ways....there is an article about windswept design. Now...the author is styling a Larch I know....but many of the concepts and directions can apply to where you're heading with your Shimpaku tree.

Way at the top....you scrolled past this article is a story about: Bonsai growth - Single Limiting Factors. That's the article I was searching for on nutrient limititations. Overall, this author has a number of excellent articles really. Made me think a lot while reading. You might want to give this blog a good reading.

Cool blog. Too bad the author is not actively posting anymore. Lots of interesting articles--I'll give them a good read later.