Trees from the course

[kez]

Hey all,

I thought it might be nice to make a bit of an ongoing progression of the trees I am working on at the current course at bonsai south, we are 3 weeks in so far and I am loving it. Its giving me lots of opportunity to work on new trees and develop my eye for picking stock.

Week 1 was figs,

I chose this tree as I wanted something bigger then what I have currently, and as both my figs are in pots, I was excited by the idea of starting something from the very beginning. The stands at about 45cm, and the trunk width is 6cm

IMG_1432 (800x533).jpg

week 2 was slanting/windswept

I went with a juniper procumbens on this one, and while I didn't achieve as great a slant as I would have liked, I am very happy with the result of this one as it was one of the first times I feel like I achieved a classic bonsai form, and it taught me alot about branch selection and how choices translate into finished results

before

Juniper (3).jpg

after

IMG_1416 (800x533).jpg

Week 3 was full/semi cascade

Again I chose a juniper, and while I dont think I quite managed the cascade as well as I could, I am very happy with the layering in the upper part of the tree, and this is the first time I have been happy with the use of jins that I have tried

before

cascade (533x800) (2).jpg

After

IMG_1437 (800x533).jpg

Hope you all enjoy, more to come after the next lesson

Kez

[Elmar]

Good show Kez!


Cheers
EZ
Sent using Tapatalk

[Reece]

Nice....

[Isitangus]

Nice work, good to see your enjoying the course

[kez]

Update time,

we missed a week last weekend due to a workshop so this week was the first for 2 weeks (withdrawals...)

Today we covered group/forrest,

I was fairly daunted going into this one as I know how subtle the details in a good composition were but I am happy with the result. There was no avoiding potting up today (for obvious reasons) however I am very happy with pot choice, and there's a chop of some form on the bottom so I think I may have picked out something a little more boutique than your standard run of the mill pots

Anyway heres a pic

IMG_1487 (800x533).jpg

Enjoy

Kez

[Boics]

Good stuff Kez.
Sounds and looks like your getting a lot out of your course.
Some great results so far.

Keep the thread going!

[kez]

Well another week has gone and another day up at Bonsai south

Today we covered formal/informal upright. I was very much looking forward to this as informal is my fav style and I was looking forward to styling something different to the trees in my collection.
I chose a mugo pine today, I already have a few JBP's but this is my first mugo, I thought the tree had great potential and it did fit into my "something different category"

Anyway here is the results of my days work

IMG_1495 (800x533).jpg

Hope you all enjoy!

Kez

[Andrew Legg]

Kez,

Something Budi Solistyo taught me. The thinner the trunk, the sparser and closer to the trunk the foliage should be. Think about thi for those skinny junipers mate. Early days yet, I know, but as you mature them, give this some thought in their design.

Cheers,

Andrew

[dark1]

Hi Kez, It is great to see such enthusiasm, you are obviously enjoying the course and you are getting some good results, well done, keep it up. Michael.

[kez]

Thanks for the encouragement folks,

Definitely enjoying the course and getting a lot out of it. Only problem is there's only 1 sunday a week haha

Kez

[Boics]

Perhaps a few to many branches left on your Mugo Kez.
Looks like some good foundations to work with and your basic shape looks good.
I think some more upright tips might help too?

No doubt you will make some good decisions as this tree evolves.
I reckon you are doing really well and have built some nice trees in a short time.

[kez]

Thanks Boics,

I am inclined to agree with the branches but I don't want to do to much for now, and better to have too many than too few . It is still quite small (maybe 30cm tall at the moment) so theres not alot to work with at the tips, but once it starts to ramify the tips will come upwards

Cheers again

Kez

[kez]

Hey all,

Been a while since I updated this thread (considering it's a weekly course) but with this that and the other I have not worked on any trees at the course since the mugo. That doesn't mean I havent been working on trees though!

Anyway this is a squamata I picked up on Monday and have been playing with since. It is very heavy branch wise up top and will need further thinning but I think I found the tree within. I am learning that patience is the key to uncovering potential when going through initial styling.

Anyway here's a before (again 1l seasol for reference)

IMG_1808 (800x533).jpg

and as it stands now

IMG_1814 (800x533).jpg

Love to hear any thoughts

Kez

[bonsaisensation]

hi kez
another lovely effort. i personally would reduce the foliage at the top even more, at least another 50%, just to lighten the visual weight and give the lower branches more of a chance to catch up.
i noticed with the mugo pine and with this juniper, front branches are very minimal. i would think having some front branches mid way through the trunk line would visually obscure the view, instead of seeing straight through the tree and hide some of the unattractive parts(the mid straight and taperless section). obviously it is too late now, but when you work on your next tree, it might be an idea to keep some front branches and see if it makes any difference.

regards

Tien

[kez]

Thought I'd post a little update on the elm,

about a month ago it was cut back to mostly primaries to address some issues with multiple branches etc and has bounced back with great gusto. It was the first of my deciduous trees to come back into leaf and once the new growth hardens it will get another trim and a little wire

Here it is now

IMG_2364 (1024x683).jpg

Hope you enjoy

Kerrin