Bonsai Sketches

[xtolord]

Decided to do some sketches of what I'd like to achieve in some 3~5 years time with some of my trees.

Here is what I've got so far.

First Tree : Privet

Current Tree


What I'd like in some 3~5 years
1. Thicken the bottom section of the trunk
2. Improve the nebari
3. Thicken the main branches
4. Have some basic ramifications

Second Tree : Privet

Current Tree


What I'd like in some 3~5 years
1. Thicken the bottom section of the trunk
2. Improve the nebari
3. Thicken the main branches + transform the two lower branches into jinns
4. Have some basic ramifications
5. Work the trunk into an S-curve

Third Tree : Snowbush

Current Tree


What I'd like in some 3~5 years
1. Thicken the bottom roots and progressively uncover them for some arial roots on one side of the trunk.
2. Keep the branches and leaves reduced

[bodhidharma]

Stunning interpretations xto. I would allow a little longer though so as not to disappoint yourself. Maybe 10 plus

[kcpoole]

Lovely Sketches and great to see you have a plan for each of them.

If you put into larger grow pots you might get there sooner tho

Ken

[Luke308]

Awesome!! Love the fluid-like strokes. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind though.......

Can you tell me what medium you used? I'm guessing it is water-colour paint, but can you tell me specifically? eg brand, type of paint, colours, and brush types?
And what does the red square mean? I often see this on things in Bonsai books, but I don't read Japanese and have often wondered what it means. I noticed Peter Adams did a similar thing on his art, which I think was the date, season, and his initials.

Keep up the great work, I'm inspired.

[xtolord]

Stunning interpretations xto. I would allow a little longer though so as not to disappoint yourself. Maybe 10 plus

lol, yeah I guess so, but i'm hoping my impatience will transmit to the tree

[xtolord]

Lovely Sketches and great to see you have a plan for each of them.

If you put into larger grow pots you might get there sooner tho

Ken

Thnks Ken,
Will look into it.

[xtolord]

Awesome!! Love the fluid-like strokes. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind though.......

Can you tell me what medium you used? I'm guessing it is water-colour paint, but can you tell me specifically? eg brand, type of paint, colours, and brush types?
And what does the red square mean? I often see this on things in Bonsai books, but I don't read Japanese and have often wondered what it means. I noticed Peter Adams did a similar thing on his art, which I think was the date, season, and his initials.

Keep up the great work, I'm inspired.

Thanks luke,
The painting style is called sumi-e, litt. Ink [sumi] Painting [e].
Its a japanese painting style [ like bonsai, originated in china, but perfected by monks when they got to japan ]
It uses only black ink, its up to you to dilute it to the appropriate concentration. Pure ink = dark, diluted ink = paler.
There are also techniques to load the brush with different tones, and different strokes to get the fluid-like strokes.
Much like bonsai, there's a whole philosophy and history behind it all.

Can you tell me what medium you used?
I used premade sumi drawing ink in this case, but typically I grind my own ink : http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtolord/49 ... 3178251302
Its not water-color paint, its typically called Chinese ink. Its made of charcoal powder.
You can't melt it back once its dry.

The brushes I use are chinese type brush. I got several sizes, but for this one I used a fountain brush pen with synthetic hairs, kind of like this : http://www.blueheronarts.com/product_in ... cts_id=113
You can have a look at my tools here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtolord/se ... 178251302/
and at some of my pictures here :http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtolord/se ... 178320872/

And what does the red square mean?
The red square is my seal [ hand made ], its like my signature.
Its a litteral translation of my name in japanese in katakana.
Xavier = Za-Bi-E-Ru = ザ ビ エ ル = http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtolord/49 ... 3178251302
It can be anything - ur name, ur family name, ur nickname/penname/artistname, a drawing, ur family seal [ if japanese ], a kanji [ love, a season, luck, etc ]

Hope it cleared your questions, if you have other feel free to ask.

Cheers
Xavier

[xtolord]

The other sketches =)
Same thing "Sketches of what I'd like to achieve in some 3~5 years time with some of my trees."

Privet No.1

Img above was in Aug 2010

Since june 2011 this one is in full earth, I expect to take it out in some two more years and work the other details the later years.


The trunk is a Y shaped, and I based my sketched on this.
There are a number of branches below the V branching of the trunk that I hope will thicken up after the two years.


Privet No.2

Img above was in April 2011


Since june 2011 this one is in full earth, I expect to take it out in some two more years and work the other details the later years.


I'm kind of unsure of how this one will turn out.
I've checked the branches this week, its a mess. Branches at the bottom at growing straight up parallel to the main trunk instead of spreading away from it.
I hope to get something that goes roughtly by that sketch later on.
Just wondering, do you wire or train the branches while its in earth? Or do you wait till after the trunk has thicken enough to clear the branches and redesign the branches?


Rosemary No.1

2 Dec 2011

Today =(
This one is dying out on me [ side effect of the drought I had couple with recent root pruning I think - I've root pruned my two other rosemary, roughtly same time give/take 1 week and they are doing fine so far. ]
I've shaken off most of the dead leaves, and there is still some green closer to the roots. So I'll have to wait and see how this one turns out. If it survives it might be a chance for me to try some deadwood on the thicked dead branches.


That was the initial sketch, but now will have to wait for some 6~8 months to see how it behaves.

Rosemary No.3



1. I'm thinking about giving some flow to the main trunk.
2. keep the lower branches close to the soil level.


Banyan [Port Jackson Fig] No.1

Will place it back into full earth by end of year.


1. Bigger pot to thicken the trunk.
2. Intend to try to train some aerial roots from either the main trunk or the the lower branch.
3. Will also see if the top branches could grow some roots.

[witchstreet]

xtolord, great sketches. You certainly have vision, which something I'm yet to achieve. Maybe in another 20 years time.
Thanks for your post. It's great to see what others are thinking.