AusBonsai

Hi all

Here are some sketches from my bonsai sketch book. I use Staedtler triplus fineliner pens (no particular reason) ball point pens are great also, and pacer (graphite pencil) rather than a pencil, as it does not need to be sharpened. I enjoy drawing bonsai and trees in general.

Generally I draw:
- Trees from memory: often I will notice trees out and about, so I want to capture it and understand what I like about it (balance, scale etc.)
- Trees from my imagination: rather than thinking bonsai has to be a certain way, I enjoy creating / pushing the boundary I have in my mind of what a bonsai tree should look like. I enjoy creating new ways of expressing miniature trees. Especially pursuing an Australian bonsai style.
- Bonsai trees from master bonsai practitioners: in order to understand good bonsai design.
- Basic shapes: in order to understand the basic aspects of design being: balance, scale, negative space, asymmetry, focal point, line, and colour (even though my sketches are generally in red and grey
- Bonsai trees that I have: in order to develop the design as my trees grow and age.

I will post more sketches again in 1-2 weeks.
I hope you enjoy these sketches and are inspired to draw the trees that you see or want to create.

Wow. Really nice work. Amazing how you just look past the red!

Beautiful. Inspiring - I love the bark detail!

Very good! Once you get a good grasp of technique - if you haven't already, you will create outstanding bonsai!.....If you see it, you can do it...

Lovely pictures ,what a great asset for bonsai...Thanks for sharing , John.

As a thank you Viniv,

pine tree design I hope to get one day.
Laters.
Tambrand

Very cool!
Look forward to seeing more of this!

Great work, that bark shading must have taken some time.

I particularly like the second last photo of the bent back over pine. Really cool design work.

Theodore wrote:Wow. Really nice work. Amazing how you just look past the red!

Thank you very much for your comments. Haha I guess I never saw it that way. I think drawing with red on brown paper produces a different aesthetic for drawing bonsai.

Thymetraveller wrote:Beautiful. Inspiring - I love the bark detail!

Thank you Thymetraveller! I have been drawing since I was a kid. I developed an interest in bonsai when I was 21, now 31. Lately I have been thinking of selling all of my bonsai, as I have kind of lost interest in them. But, I will hold onto them and continue to draw bonsai also. Thank you for your feedback, it really helps!

treeman wrote:Very good! Once you get a good grasp of technique - if you haven't already, you will create outstanding bonsai!.....If you see it, you can do it...

Thanks treeman! I intend to post some photos of my bonsai also. As I mentioned to Thymetraveller, I was going to sell my trees, but I have reconsidered, and will hold onto them. Especially as spring is around the corner!!!

boom64 wrote:Lovely pictures ,what a great asset for bonsai...Thanks for sharing , John.

Thanks boom64 (John)!! I appreciate your comments

Tambrand wrote:As a thank you Viniv,

pine tree design I hope to get one day.
Laters.
Tambrand

the future.jpg

Hi Tambrand! haha thanks for posting your sketch of the pine! It looks great!! You will have this tree one day

Boics wrote:Very cool!
Look forward to seeing more of this!

Thanks Boics! I think i originally said 1 - 2 weeks I will post again Now that it is JULY, (oops) I will rustle together the next post lol
Thanks for your support mate.

The Munt wrote:Great work, that bark shading must have taken some time.

I particularly like the second last photo of the bent back over pine. Really cool design work.

Thank you The Munt!! Once I get a feel for how to bark will look, it becomes a meditative process of finding the tree on the page