AusBonsai

Been sketching bonsai for a while, this is my first ink and colourised tree. Think it's a pine?? - Daniel

Hi Legoman, sorry to disappoint you, but for me there isn't enough detail or distinctive shape to be able to categorize it as a pine or juniper. It could also be a broadleaf tree. Perhaps if you look at some of the Japanese or Chinese art representing plants and landscapes it could give you some guidance.
Cheers, Frank.

It can be whatever you want it to be - you drew it!
The blue pot kind of makes me think a maple in leaf if I think of it from a traditional pot/tree perspective, maybe a trident???
Whatever it is, it has a killer base on it ... nice sketch, I like it.

Hehehe, thanks! Yeh, was thinking kind of juniper or pine, maybe maple. Will definitely check out existing art, though this was just sketching.

Base could have a touch too much taper.

Will try some more soon, at least I can't kill it.

New tree ... this one was more of a snow gum attempt (without any reference). First time using the kid's paints!

In hindsight, the left branch is too sudden/perpedicular I think. Might fix it in Photoshop if the consensus agrees? Also, not enough taper?
- Daniel

Hi Legoman, for my liking it has enough taper, but I think the branch crutches could be slightly narrower V's and if you can get the foliage to have a slightly weeping direction it would also help. I really like the rendering of the trunk. only also an improvement on the previous one you posted. Keep going with it, looking forward to seeing the next one. Cheers, Frank.
p.s. I assume (rightly, I hope) that you don't mind having your art critiqued.

Thanks Frank!!! Good feedback, agree with most of it, and ofcourse, very happy for feedback and criticism ... how else do we learn!

Did also struggle with the $1 plastic brushes but didn't want to blame my tools, haha.

Will try a revision of this and post it up soon before my next creation.

- Daniel

Very interesting exercise in where our imaginations take us actually.

Personally that first photo puts me in mind if a mature maple, I suspect purely because of the blue glazed pot. Interesting how much sway one detail can have