I’m Evan Marsh, a 22 year old Australian bonsai enthusiast who’s currently on the journey to becoming a professional bonsai artist.

I only started bonsai in 2012, but within a year I knew that it was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So in 2013, I decided I wanted to do bonsai as a career. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Sydney to further my horticultural knowledge with the idea of doing a traditional bonsai apprenticeship once I finished my degree.

Four years felt like too long to wait until I would be able to start my bonsai training. So I began looking for someone who could take me on as a part-time apprentice for the next few years until I finish my degree. In 2015 I was lucky enough to meet Koji Hiramatsu, who was willing to take me on as a student. By the end of that year I was studying with him at his nursery for 3 months.

During this study trip I went from from working in Takamatsu, to road-tripping to Kumamoto, selling at Gafu-ten, and even going all the way to Belgium for the Noelanders Trophy. My next trip will take me to Kumamoto, where I will be studying with Masahiro Sasaki for 2 months.

The idea behind this blog is to show you the adventures from my own personal journey in Bonsai. So until I begin my full-time apprenticeship enjoy the adventures of me, the Part-time Deshi.