Bonsai Society of WA - Robert Steven Workshop/Demo/Critique

[Boics]

Good stuff Jason.
Thanks for the great photos and look forward to an update on your tree.

[lackhand]

Looks like a great experience, and I like the direction you've found for your tree. Keep us posted on that one.

[banksia]

Looks like a great time was had by all. Would 've liked to attend, but unfortunately Xmas and New Years are the only public holidays that I don't work.
I'm surprised no one took any Casuarina material along...after all it is his forte....or was there?...and there's more pics to come?
Only ever had one Diosma in my time. I found it to be very slow in bouncing back after any extensive work (could've been my timing/experience...or lack of), looks like he's gone pretty hard on that one. I see Diane watching intently. Was it her tree??. A case of once bitten, twice shy. I hope not.

Cheers!
Anthony

[Jason]

Looks like a great time was had by all. Would 've liked to attend, but unfortunately Xmas and New Years are the only public holidays that I don't work.
I'm surprised no one took any Casuarina material along...after all it is his forte....or was there?...and there's more pics to come?
Only ever had one Diosma in my time. I found it to be very slow in bouncing back after any extensive work (could've been my timing/experience...or lack of), looks like he's gone pretty hard on that one. I see Diane watching intently. Was it her tree??. A case of once bitten, twice shy. I hope not.

Cheers!
Anthony

haha yes, it was her tree (The Diosma). Although might be a club tree now to be raffled, but am not sure if that's been decided as yet

The tree was actually due to be torn up from a car park and thrown out Apparently a branch was scratching car doors, so it was set to be removed. Luckily, it was rescued before it was able to be dug and destroyed Makes me wonder what gets thrown out that we don't hear about lol

There were a couple of Casurina's in the workshops, however I didn't get photos of them due to working on my own tree's at the time I did plan to take my Cas, but didn't think I'd benefit as much from that as I would my other tree's, just not enough work to do on it

His demo and presentation were very eye opening for me, he went on a lot about our mindsets, and how we can stop ourselves from making a truely beautiful design because of 'rules' or 'styles'. Not so much that we should forget them, but that we should not let them take over our design process.
I'm still digesting everything he said, as it was quite deep and a lot for me to take in (I took A LOT of notes), so I'm probably not capturing what he said correctly, but am trying my best

[Pup]

I found Monday was interesting. He said that the wiring was important, and also said to be aware of when you put the wire on that you know which way you are going to twist and bend the tree. This was with the big juniper, then he told the owner of the Melaleuca to wire the tree, he had many helpers.
However I did not hear any mention of what way the bends were going. So they knew which way to place the wire. Though there were some wiring that had to come off.
So maybe he told the owner and not the audience. He did reiterate that the space should be at least 45% and not tight like a spring.

Just my Pup

[Neli]

Robert allowed me to post some of his pictures here for those that have not seen them on FB.

[Neli]

Nd this is the tree he got from Australia.

[Jason]

Thanks for that Neli! They were the photos I took on Robert's camera (aside from the last two), so didn't get to take many of my own from that night it was first time using a DSLR so hope they are ok, but that you for posting them

You can see the training branches he uses on this tree, all the branching (bar the few obvious ones that you can see) is from his 'styrofoam wire branch thingys' as I have dubbed them bloody great idea for giving examples when he is talking, or for if you want to look at what a tree might become...



Spot on Pup, he touched on it over the weekend as well. Making sure that the way you wrap the wire, follows the way that you plan to bend. So that way when you make the bend, it tightens the wire rather then the opposite. He didn't pick too many of us up for doing it incorrectly though, so maybe he was just being nice

[PeterH]

The Melaleuca Rhaphiophylla in the 3rd pic on the 2nd page is great material and will be a magnificent Bonsai in years to come. Wish I had access to material like that.

Regards,

Peter

[siddhar]

The windswept trees look great. The styling is fantastic

[Neli]

He! I never realized those are branches he added on to show future development. Thanks. Very interesting and the pictures are good.

[eddieperth]

I love what he did with John's juniper! Got to see that tree up close on Wednesday and I reckon its got alot of potential!

[banksia]

That Nesophila Semi-Cascade is going to be really something in the years to come. Any clues as to the species of tree Robert and Diane are pictured with at the end?.

Cheers!
Anthony

[Pup]

Leptospermum laevigatum, coastal tee tree.

Cheers Pup

[banksia]

Apologies Pup.

Cheers!
Anthony