Overhaul of a 59 year old Mugo Pine.

[NBPCA]

grant could you get a pic of the back say rotated 10, 20 and 30 % anti-clockwise??

regards jarryd

Shall do tomorrow. The roots at the back are pretty ordinary!

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Jarryd

here finally are the pics you requested.

Back 0 degrees.JPG

Back 10 degrees anti clockwise.JPG

Back 20 degrees anti clockwise.JPG

Back 30 degrees anti clockwise.JPG

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

I got a few hours worth of work done yesterday and this morning on the tree. Back branches have really be pulled in and around as part of the work.

I still have to wire the middle right hand side area, some middle back area and some lower right back area.

The rest of the branches are not placed yet and will only be done when wiring is completely finished and carving finished off also. Still a few weeks to go yet I would think.

Front mid right and mid back still to wire.JPG

However the real big news is I now have a room inside the house completely for my use as a bonsai studio. It opens onto the back yard through double glass doors. We relocated our office into a spare bedroom which now has a foldaway wall bed in it.

Grant

[Leigh Taafe]

Here is the next video installment. We did one other after this tonight, I will try and get it uploaded as soon as I can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eg7V0bkKF4

[Leigh Taafe]

Here is Part 6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nrE_REBRR4

[Grant Bowie]

Got a few more hours of work done on the tree last night . Positioned loosely the crown but lots to do yet; more compaction, placing, pointing up of tips etc..

Did some carving on Sunday and still lots to go. will further shorten the jins on the left.

Starting to get there.

grant

Top positioned.JPG

Top positioned 1.JPG

[Jamie]

very nice guys

this one is coming up SWEEEEEET! it looks good now, its gonna look great once it is all done

[jarryd]

Hey grant sorry i took so long to get back to you. uni has been full on this semester

I have enjoyed very much the transformation of this tree. however I have been intrigued by this trees direction.

Its fundamental base just seems out of balance with this trees direction. the left hand side of the current front nebari seems to week to support the weight of this tree. i feel as if it may fall over.

The foliage density just seems to heavy for the width of the trunk and swept style of the tree.

I hope my drawing will illustrate what i am trying to express. After the removal of the heavy back branch, from the two dimensional image this appears to be a very nice front. removal of this branch also with a small amount of thining and compaction will create a lighter composition and bring the flow, elegence and grace needed to pull off this swept style of bonsai.

i hope you do not find this disrespectful, i think the styling of the tree so far is very good. i just feel it could be better
keep up the great work grant
kind regards
Jarryd Bailey

[Grant Bowie]

Your point is valid. However I will be putting it into a freeform pot/ cresent shape and that should nicely hide the week roots on the left side by building it up on that side. I don't think it would work in such a shallow pot.

lovely sketch by the way and a good thought.

grant.

[jarryd]

that will do nicely grant. i should have thought you would have another trick up your sleave . I look forward to seeing the further refinement of this tree. I love the fact that you are showing this tree such respect.

[Leigh Taafe]

Hi Jarryd - you should see the tree - the back branches and foliage are awesome. Maybe once Grant has finished "tweaking" we can get a 360 done - you will see how it works much better. Even better if you can see it in real life. This is definately one of the best reworkings of a Mugo Pine I have come across. Think where this tree has come from, I am sure there are some pics of the tree when Grant first got it.

Grant, I think you are right about the jin, it needs to come in closer to the foliage and get shorter on that left hand side.

[jarryd]

i will take your word for it leigh you and grant are both well and truely more then competant artists.

i will have to make a trip down to see the collection one day and you guys can give me the tour

i i think i can remember what it looked like a long time ago i think it was one that you had up for sale on ebay a few yrs back. it has certainly come a long way since then.

cant wait to see this after the tweeking is finished i think a cresent pot is the perfect solution to the problem with the roots. you blokes do great work. if you ever need an extra set of hands at the collection ahaha

[Grant Bowie]

i will take your word for it leigh you and grant are both well and truely more then competant artists.

i will have to make a trip down to see the collection one day and you guys can give me the tour

i i think i can remember what it looked like a long time ago i think it was one that you had up for sale on ebay a few yrs back. it has certainly come a long way since then.

cant wait to see this after the tweeking is finished i think a cresent pot is the perfect solution to the problem with the roots. you blokes do great work. if you ever need an extra set of hands at the collection ahaha

Don't get confused about this tree. This is my personal tree, not part of the NBPCA. Thats why I only get limited time to work on it.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hi everyone,

I got a few more hours work done on the tree last night. I was mostly tweaking the right hand side. I extended and lowered it as much as possible then set about rounding it out. I trimmed out a few minor inner branchlets to thin it out and then make it easier to compact over the next week.

I also removed a few of the back branches and there is a lot more thought and work to go into the back branches. i need to simplify the profile visible from the front.

Still lots to do yet.

A video is being downloaded now but it will be the morning before it is posted. Big file.
Grant

Mugo Pine1 - GB - 2010-7-28 800 x 600.jpg

[Leigh Taafe]

You forgot to mention we dropped it !