And here is something completly different (yet amazing)

[Luke308]

http://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/lenz.php

Check out some of these bonsai creations. Not necessarily traditional, but awesome not the less!!

[fiveoffive]

must say very cool.
much like my post from the other day.

I'm going to give it a go.if i can get one to look 10% as good as any of his i'll be a happy bonsai man

[mattgatenby]

Great link thanks Luke

Cheers
Matt

[Mojo Moyogi]

I've probably said this before, do but you know what I love about Nick Lenz? His style is way out there, abstract, expressive bonsai art, but the man has traditional bonsai styling and horticultural skills (especially with US native species) to knock a lot of bonsai professionals on their asses. He chooses to reject (raise his middle finger to, actually) mainstream bonsai styling in favour of his unique brand of self expression.
I can't help but to respect him for that.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Brian]

Well bonsai is an art, so why not express it how you feel it should ! Who cares about rules.

[alpineart]

I have to agree 100% with Brian .It is an art and it's design is forever changing . No rules , rules in my book .

Cheers Alpine

[GavinG]

Thanks for posting this link. What I notice about Nick Lenz's trees, and also those in the Penjing article and the Lam Ngoc Vinh page is that (mostly) all the trunks are strong. Nothing weedy, wavery or dull. When you have a powerful core you can add whatever you want.

When you add a non-botanical reference to a bonsai composition you need to remember that you will look at it for 20, 40, 60 years - it can't be cheap, cliché, shallow or ordinary. It's not straightforward.

Gavin