I like to think of this a bit differently. It is not about breaking the rules it is about understanding them so well you need not think about them. If you understand the rules you will find that no masterpiece breaks them.By Asus
Before you can break the rules you have to know the rules.. Once you know the rules and reasons for them you can then look at breaking them.
Here is an article in two parts about this.
http://www.shadysidebonsai.com/bonsaiva ... /id10.html
http://www.shadysidebonsai.com/bonsaiva ... n/id9.html