Small literati JBP: first styling

[kez]

Hey all,

Picked up some more JBP stock today,

I was sorely tempted by a beautiful twin trunk, curved windswept looking bit of goodness that I could see a great future for but alas the funds did not stretch that far so instead I picked something much smaller.

I have been admiring literati pines lately and thought this was a good chance to give one a go

Here's what I started with (forgive the blurry pics, my resize program does this for some reason)
cost: $30

image.jpg

And after styling (please forgive the paper, there is still some branching that I am hesitant to remove yet (don't want to over stress the tree)

image.jpg

Love to know what you all think

Kez

[bonsaisensation]

hi Kez
good effort for the first try. and you've picked i think one of the most difficult style in bonsai to tackle. bunjins are very hard to get right because you are playing with minimal branches, the whole length of the trunk exposed(hence nowhere to hide faults) and the balance of foliage mass versus empty spaces..... the list go on.
i'd tilt the tree on a bit more of an angle to the right and bend the top half and the apex away from the centre also to the right hand side. at the moment the tree looked like an informal upright missing too many branches. a clear indication of direction can improve your design.

regards

Tien

[Guy]

have a close look at the nebari and tilt accordingly or try to get more movement in the lower trunk by using a heavy duty branch bender

[kez]

Bit of an update on this tree,

After a few attempts at pushing and pulling the branches around I decided I had botched this one and relegated it to my dead corner. I may or may not have cut candles last year (can't remember) but this tree was watered (sparingly) and not much else for about a year.

I had been thinking about thinning out the old needles and seeing what was happening with this tree for a little while now and I found myself with some free time today so I gave it a shot.

Here it is as of this morning before work

IMG_3705 (1024x683).jpg

and after

IMG_3710 (1024x683).jpg

and from the side for movement

IMG_3711 (1024x683).jpg

Hope you all enjoy

Kerrin

[Piscineidiot]

Well done, Kerrin. Nice recovery!

Owen

[jezz_39]

Nice progression, Kerrin. Thoroughly enjoyable watching people's artistic visions and abilities grow as they progress with the hobby. I think you are on the right path now