How to create randomness by following a strict routine.

[Grant Bowie]

Sounds absurd but after watching Ooch closely and listening to Ryan at the convention I have come up with the following theory.

Clean out from the top down and wire from the bottom up. Nothing new there although it is still not done routinely.

Clean from the top down and then follow a strict routine to thin out and select branches and branchlets on the way up.
First. Without any regard to possible style or treatment you start at the lowest branch and have a look at it.
Go out to the first side branch; if there are more than one remove any so there is just one remaining (Probably the strongest) (Remove those heading back strongly towards the trunk, strongly vertical or strongly down). So you have a branch and the first side branch.(2)
Go out the side branch and do as above. We now have 2 x 2.finish off this branchlet in this manner.
Go back to the main branch and go up the branch to the next branchlet and repeat till you have 2 x 2.
Continue out the second branchlet to the tip selecting back to 2 and then you have 2 x 2 x 2.
Go back to the main branch and continue up the branch to the tip following 2 x 2 x 2 x 2.

Because of the varying spacing and placing of the branchlets the pattern will become random by following this strict pattern of selection.
The strict enforcement of 2 x 2 will create/reinforce the natural taper of trunk, branch and branchlets.

As you go up the trunk you will find major branches off the trunk where there will be more than one from the same point and you will need to make decisions. Do you leave the heaviest, lightest or somewhere in between. This is where your choices will influence the eventual style.

Ryans first lesson from Kimura was how to style a branch; not the whole tree; so it is a good place to start.

Grant

[Ozmad]

well wrote Grant
I have spoken many times with my Mentor, about this and how people get overly confused in what direction to go with their trees.
and as I've been told come back to your basic teaching of 2x2 and the tree will beguin to apear.
Very well wrote Grant

[Grant Bowie]

One thing I forgot to mention was that once you have selected the first 2; if the next 2 is too close then remove that one as well. This will help taper and eliminate future lumps or swellings.

Grant

[Webos]

Good observations Grant. I think that this can be applied to almost any bonsai. I think a pictorial would enhance your explanation. One part I find a little difficult to understand is when you say "if there are more than one remove any so there is only one remaining".

[Damian Bee]

Fantastic grant.
These little gems of theory are great

[Grant Bowie]

Good observations Grant. I think that this can be applied to almost any bonsai. I think a pictorial would enhance your explanation. One part I find a little difficult to understand is when you say "if there are more than one remove any so there is only one remaining".

A practical HELPS A LOT AS WELL. I showed it on the weekend on a Japanese maple to one of our volunteers and he was stunned. It was so simple.

I will see what I can do on Wednesday.

grant

[k2bonsai]

my head just exploded... any chance of someone adding a pic of the method as i got lost after the first 2x2, or was that the 2nd 2x2....

[Andrew Legg]

my head just exploded... any chance of someone adding a pic of the method as i got lost after the first 2x2, or was that the 2nd 2x2....

Clean up the mess mine made when you clean up yours!

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Yes please to a virt someone!!

I think I've got it, but a picture (or diagram..) speaks a thousand words.

sounds interesting...

[Grant Bowie]

It will work best in 3 dimensions so I will try and do some photos tomorrow.

I also should have said not to cut out all verticals, just the very strong ones, as the other ones can eventually become horizontals after directional cutting.

Also rub off all unnecessary buds around clusters of branches; otherwise they keep coming back.

Where I said to remove all except one branch I meant that by leaving one branch you have a 2(Trunk and branch = 2)

I will order my thoughts and try and explain with pics.

I have a corky elm that would work OK.

Grant

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Grant I realise you are busy with the workshops and everything else - but have you managed to do some sketches for this ?

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Grant I realise you are busy with the workshops and everything else - but have you managed to do some sketches for this ?

No,

It has been gnawing away at me as how to best present it. Not easy is my conclusion.

I have been practising the method on actual bonsai and find it very useful however.

Will have a go at doing sketches soon.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

CRS1.jpeg

OK,

We have a very bushy Juniper stock or Bonsai to play with. With this particular I have had all the old unhealthy foliage stripped out and good healthy foliage left short at the tips. (You will have to imagine the foliage at the tips) All buds have been rubbed off as well. Only vigorous growth is left. No regard has been paid yet to try and style or shape the tree.

Where would a beginner begin?

A Japanese bonsai apprentice after 3 years full time work would be allowed/expected to be able; starting at the top and moving down, to thin out the old foliage leaving the correct amount of foliage at the tips, select out any incorrect branches moving in the wrong direction, right down to the bottom of the tree.

The master would then cut out the unwanted major branches and then the apprentice would wire and set the entire tree.

Where would a beginner in Australia begin? (Rhetorical question, more sketches to come)

[Grant Bowie]

Most beginners would start exactly where more experienced people would start.

Try to select the front and cut out all unnecessary branches following some sort of plan. This does however lead to a certain sameness.

I will try to explain by now showing a simpler structure, a branch.

CRS2.jpeg

.

I will number the branchlets clumps.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

CRS3.jpeg

Areas of foliage numbered.

Which lots of foliage would you remove completely and which would you select to remain?

From the areas you choose to keep which one of the multiple branches would you keep?

I will give my opinions tomorrow.

grant