Kunzea Ambigua - a native study in form and elevation

[hugh grant]

Hi all
ID like to share my latest project. A Kunzea ambigua styled for The VNBC Native Bonsai symposium.
This tree really presented the opportunity to explore the form Kunzea in its old and ancient context. Kunzea ambigua when old tend to fall apart presenting both upward gnarled growing areas and low ground hugging sections that all take there own initiative in space. I decided to use elevation to suggest this form while taking into consideration the best place to construct the tree from. I call this tree a study in form and elevation as an exploration of exaggerated natural features while trying to express an environment with flair and a little bit excitement.
Let me know your thoughts, a great tree for discussion i know.

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Hugh

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi Hugh,

I love it mate, very thought provoking. Could see it on many rocky outcrops around the place, with a vertical drop or a watery backdrop.

What is the intention for planting in its future ?

Looking forward to seeing this develop.

Cheers

Willow

[boom64]

Hi Hugh,
Great looking tree ,crusty old bark ,deadwood and eye catching movement . Do you intend to grow below the horizontal ? Will follow this one keenly.
Cheers John.

[hugh grant]

What is the intention for planting in its future ?

Thanks David
not sure yet really! something to think about over the next little while! plan on potting in august/september if the tree is kicking along well and a suitable 'something' is found to hold it. its a tricky one because it has 2 root systems, one from where it assumes to originate and another where the trunk sits at the edge of the pot there.

Hi Hugh,
Great looking tree ,crusty old bark ,deadwood and eye catching movement . Do you intend to grow below the horizontal ? Will follow this one keenly.
Cheers John.

Thanks John. this tree is truly old ! yes yes growing everything as you see here, the structure and framework of the design is set.

[GavinG]

Very nice harmony between the angles in the old trunk and the newly wired branches. The two very straight sections in the old material are challenging, but it all hangs together, for me. Thanks for posting.

Gavin

[Nate.bonsai]

Hugh, really nice material! In the photos at least, my eye is distracted from that dynamic and beautifully balanced trunk line by what appear to be three equally dominant foliage focal points which are spread through about 180 degrees of the design.

At least to my eye, the focus on that awfully good looking flowing trunk would be improved by taking away the two branches in the lower left sector. You would then be forced to follow the trunk line all the way around to the two remaining foliage focal points (e.g. If the tree was as per the third pic). This would also help to make the design more asymmetric, which I think suits this wild trunk more.

Food for thought (or it may look completely different in the flesh).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[hugh grant]

Hugh, really nice material! In the photos at least, my eye is distracted from that dynamic and beautifully balanced trunk line by what appear to be three equally dominant foliage focal points which are spread through about 180 degrees of the design.

At least to my eye, the focus on that awfully good looking flowing trunk would be improved by taking away the two branches in the lower left sector. You would then be forced to follow the trunk line all the way around to the two remaining foliage focal points (e.g. If the tree was as per the third pic). This would also help to make the design more asymmetric, which I think suits this wild trunk more.

Food for thought (or it may look completely different in the flesh).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hey mate
thanks for the thoughts. I now exactly what your talking about! and a legitimate form the tree i think too. My decision making behind keeping say that left hand side is, it is a very very old branch with some incredible detail and movement, it would be a large shame i think to waste what is there and remove it for the sake of making a more consumable design. Its one aspect i always try to stick to when working old trees, im very hesitant to cut any valued pieces off and would rather find a way to incorporate them.
I will mention too ive since tweaked the tree a little and it sits a tad more rotated to the left, as in, if you tip your screen to the left by 20-30 degrees, is about the right orientation. brings it all in a bit better and lowers that left branch more.

[Jow]

Hey Hugh. Can you elaborate on your threads title a little more. What do you mean by "a study into form and elevation"? Are you saying shape an height? I'd be keen to hear your concept ideas/ justification.

[Nate.bonsai]

Hugh, thanks for the considered reply and for taking the constructive comments in the manner in which they were intended.

I can respect your reasons for wanting to keep something with great character and bearing the spontaneous touch of nature that can't be replicated by hand.

However, nature isn't doing her thing from the perspective of a bonsai artist. Also, many artists have turfed works which contain some sublime elements, but just don't work overall.

I too would hesitate long and hard before giving something of character the chop and leave it to your keen and artistic eye over time whether the tree would benefit from a selective reduction.

Very cool material and always appreciate your thought process behind the design. Thanks for sharing.


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[hugh grant]

Hey Hugh. Can you elaborate on your threads title a little more. What do you mean by "a study into form and elevation"? Are you saying shape an height? I'd be keen to hear your concept ideas/ justification.

Good question Jow
basically i want to portray through the title that this is very much an explorative piece of work. trying to discover aesthetically what can be achieved with said piece of material. To me this was a rather an adventurous tree to tackle, playing with different elevations of foliage masses, intersecting lines and a design that encompasses similar bodies of weight in areas that cover an area from high to low. while also playing with strong directional movement to the right. this tree could very well be made simpler but ive chosen to explore form and elevation in a different way working off the demands that the material presented.

Hugh, thanks for the considered reply and for taking the constructive comments in the manner in which they were intended.
I can respect your reasons for wanting to keep something with great character and bearing the spontaneous touch of nature that can't be replicated by hand.
However, nature isn't doing her thing from the perspective of a bonsai artist. Also, many artists have turfed works which contain some sublime elements, but just don't work overall.
I too would hesitate long and hard before giving something of character the chop and leave it to your keen and artistic eye over time whether the tree would benefit from a selective reduction.
Very cool material and always appreciate your thought process behind the design. Thanks for sharing.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Cheers Nate
thanks for the reply mate, and of course!
ill see how i can make it work, for now lets see what the tree does and what the tree gives us to respond to in the next stage of working, whenever that is.