Tree on display Wattspace Gallery Newcastle

[hugh grant]

Hi all
Would like to promote my latest work currently on display at WattSpace gallery in Newcastle, NSW. My work is one of many other contemporary works in the show from a range of talented artists, be sure to check it out if your in the area or are looking for an excuse to visit the rad city of Newy!

Gallery open 11am - 5pm
until Sunday 27th November

Northumberland House Cnr Auckland and King Streets
Newcastle, New South Wales

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[Rory]

That looks lovely Hugh, especially in black & white.

[melbrackstone]

Eek, do you get a chance to give it some light?? It looks glorious, but I'd hate to think the time in the gallery does untold damage.

[treeman]

Looks very nice Hugh but IMO, that jin totally has to go. Too distracting from the rest of the tree. It's the first thing that grabs your eye.

[Matthew]

Im with Mike its the first thing im drawn to not the trunk line etc . Reduce or remove . Other than that REALLY nice mate

[Boics]

Yep.
I'm all for something different to take ones eye but the "completed" look of this rounded established foliage mass clashes with the large protruding Jin.

[DavidWilloughby]

Love it Hugh,

Taking it to the next step and beyond, great tree and great combination. "Thought provoking..." is what comes to mind. I love what you are doing.

Cheers

Willow

[Watto]

Without the extended jin it would look like many other bonsai, but with the jin it sets it apart. I like it!

[tgward]

very nice----------hesitate------hesitate some more-----thinking,thinking(the tree would look older and larger without it)---but I would never say it

[Graeme]

Wouldn't touch a thing - love it.

[boom64]

I am on the yes side with this one, strong and powerful.......

[treeman]

thinking(the tree would look older and larger without it)---but I would never say it

Why would you never say it?

Well you have said it and I happen to agree with you. If someone posts a tree on the internet, they should expect and welcome all comments - especially negative ones. I know that when I do, I appreciate positive comments but pay more attention to negative ones. This can give you a perspective that you may otherwise not have considered. You do not have to agree with it but it should be looked on as valuable input.
If we are to develop as bonsai practitioners we need to be able to examine all possible variables as we go and the opinion of others can be a powerful tool. Without comment and discussion there is stagnation.
In this particular case I find (and again - MY opinion only) that the jin is excessive and over-powers the whole image rather than taking a complementary role as I believe it should. Does it matter? Perhaps not.
But lets have a look at the tree without the jin:

bwb.JPG

Is the image now more conventional? Yes no doubt, but also the centre of attention has now shifted to the trunk (which is always the most important part) and the detail of the branching. In other words, it is more settled, relaxed and your eye no longer has to ''seek'' out these important features. We might say that the jin does not have an immediately apparent natural reason. The tree's structure is made to look aged with weeping branches etc., so if we are to keep the jin, the stying of the tree could be made to compliment it. More angular, with horizontal to upright branching and ''wild'', more ''weather beaten''. Perhaps more windswept with greater weight on the lee of the tree? The jin would then make more ''sense''
IMO, we should not turn our back on convention without good reason to do it.

[Rory]

As much as I love reading your posts Mike, your virtual skills are sometimes a bit lacking. ... so...

Just making the judging even for the jins, the jin-nots, and the jin-lessers

HughsTree.jpg

This is an awesome thread. I am grateful that Hugh has posted this. My preference would be the left or right tree, with either the jin kept or modified.
The downwards branches is probably the most interesting focal point for me, because I do get why Mike feels it is against the jin.

Over the years I've observed so many different variables in nature, that as I get older I'm less inclined to say this would or wouldn't happen. Therefore I admire the beauty of all 3 of the trees above. If it was mine, I would probably 'lean' towards the left or right tree. But I do understand the theory as to why the jin upsets Mike. Its very thought provoking. Having said that, I prefer the upwards branch structure more on Pups mels, but everyone is different and all Mels are different in the wild too.

The trunk line is lovely. Hugh has a great habit of stying a tree his way which is unique and always interesting.

[treeman]

As much as I love reading your posts Mike, your virtual skills are sometimes a bit lacking. ... so...

Just making the judging even for the jins, the jin-nots, and the jin-lessers

HughsTree2.jpg

This is an awesome thread. I am grateful that Hugh has posted this. My preference would be the left or right tree, with either the jin kept or modified.
The downwards branches is probably the most interesting focal point for me, because I do get why Mike feels it is against the jin.

Over the years I've observed so many different variables in nature, that as I get older I'm less inclined to say this would or wouldn't happen. Therefore I admire the beauty of all 3 of the trees above. If it was mine, I would probably 'lean' towards the left or right tree. But I do understand the theory as to why the jin upsets Mike. Its very thought provoking. Having said that, I prefer the upwards branch structure more on Pups mels, but everyone is different and all Mels are different in the wild too.


The trunk line is lovely. Hugh has a great habit of stying a tree his way which is unique and always interesting.

I didn't realize this was a Melealuca. Is it? (eyesight failing)
If it is, this changes things much more fundamentally for me........

[Ryceman3]

I think it might be this one I remembered from a little while ago??!? If that is true - amazing development in a pretty short space of time Hugh! it really has powered on....

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