good job for a rainy day

[craigw60]

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Here are some pics of my days work. The subject is a cedrus deodara originally styled by John Naka although the tree has gone through so many changes since then its hardly relevant. I have both worked on and neglected this tree over the years. I feel like it could be a whole lot better and think for such a tall tree a bit over 1m it should be a lot more simple. I really like the effect of 3 branches and a crown but it takes skill to produce a convincing bonsai with so few elements. Happy to take any advice offered
Craig

[Jarrod]

It is a good days work. I love the layers that you have put in. Works for me.

I wish I had some big old stock to work with!

[craigw60]

Hi Jarrod,
The old material will come you just have to be patient. I reckon that stepping the foliage on conifers is one of the most important jobs to do on them, it allows light to get into the inner branches and looks good, aesthetics and good cultivation is really what bonsai is all about.
Craig

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi Jarrod,
The old material will come you just have to be patient. I reckon that stepping the foliage on conifers is one of the most important jobs to do on them, it allows light to get into the inner branches and looks good, aesthetics and good cultivation is really what bonsai is all about.
Craig

Hi Craig, lovely Cedar.

A bit of a 5 minute virtual with the foliage played with, bulked and some negative areas added. You would probably like the work of Robert Kempinski from Florida, his Black Pines in particular are beautifully layered.

craig W deodara revised.jpg

Oops...I just realised that I used the before image. Oh well

Cheers
Mojo Moyogi

[craigw60]

Thanks Mojo,
I would be much happier with it if it was a blue atlas but its not. Your virts are useful thanks with that scenario I would take the top layer off and condense it. Unfortunately the deodar cedars don't get such nice neat foliage. I would never start one now. They always look a bit hairy the foliage never seems to sit quite right.
With thanks from Craig

[Jarrod]

I know but while I grow on seedlings I would like some bigger stuff to play with.

looking at it more detail now I'm not at work, have you thought about taking the top section off. In the last pic it looks plausable to remove the part above where you can see the trunk extending straight up. Hard to tell with out seeing it up close.

Cheers

[anttal63]

Beautiful old tree craig. Good work mate.