It had some low branching where the dead stumps are, and the trunk it has now was a branch only about 10 or 15mm thick. I progressed to chopping it back to that branch to grow the tree from it so I could have a small to medium Bonsai. During some periods of not enough attention to pruning, what I wanted was lost in typical Pine fashion as it grew too long and I lost needle growth closer to the trunk where I could get branches from. I have kept up its pruning in more recent years, but have never committed to anything. I have had 3 or 4 ideas over the years and have almost done it as a demo 4 or 5 times, but always left it on the shelf waiting for inspiration.With the Tops weekend came the opportunity for me to do a workshop with Marc Noelanders, and I decided this was the perfect tree for it. I have not done a workshop with another artist for many years, although I have wanted to, as when interstate at AABC Conventions it is hard to take ot bring home the stock, and when here I have been busy with stuff, or running my own. I wa excited at the opportunity like I haven't been for a while, and decided to drive to Sydney for Tops so I could take my own tree. I had a great day among other keen artists, and spent 7 hours watching what they were doing and working on this tree.
I had so much fun working on this tree as I got to use heaps of techniques combined with Marc's vision. A huge thankyou to Marc for his ease of sharing knowledge and fun, and to Illawarra for the opportunity to do this. I am on a Bonsai high.
I have been having some technical issues on my blog so am unable to post at the moment, and I have more photos to add to this story when the time comes that I can again. The full process will be on display then as there are quite a few photos.
Tony
One question, the stub at the top, will it be removed eventually or kept as a jin?
That has come up a treat and exactly what the tree needed. I look forward to its progress. It is nice to see lots of Pines coming up for scrutiny for the future of Bonsai in Oz.
