Old Olive style help

[JaredN]

Hey guys

Dug this olive up over winter in the Adelaide foot hills. It was pretty loose when I got it home, so I've just gradually been chipping away at it to find the beauty underneath.

As I've only been growing bonsai's for just over a year, I've got a lot to learn about larger established trees.

Couple questions to the community about my style approach from here on in...
- Do I lop off the top section and build a top pad closer to the other establishing bottom two pads? (if so is there a preferred season to make such a large cut?)
- Should I thin out the far right pad so it's flatter and more compact?
- Any other suggestions?

Appreciate your time to reply. Cheers

[treeman]

A suggestion.....

oldolive1.JPG

[kcpoole]

Treemans suggestion x2

Ken

[shibui]

I find that designing from a 2d photo is quite difficult because there is little perspective. It appears that the third branch is at the back of the tree going away from the viewer. Maybe not the best apex unless it could be bent forward a bit? What about rotating the entire tree 180 deg so that branch is in the front. I think that rotation would also put the second foliage mass to the rear to give some depth as well.
Definitely need to remove the tall straight section of trunk. I was considering the possibility of leaving a longer jin but that section is a bit too straight so I think Mike's short jin is a better option. Some shari on the trunk as well? Maybe.

[JaredN]

Appreciate your suggestions guys, have since made the chop. Excited for it's new look!

[shibui]

Do we get a look at the result or is that a secret

[Max]

Do we get a look at the result or is that a secret