REFINEMENT OF A COLLECTED PRIVET
Posted: February 16th, 2009, 7:03 pm
Hi everyone,
this tree caused a bit of debate in this forum, when it was recently offered for sale on e-bay.
You may like to see its development along its journey so far.
cheers
Dave
In October 2007 I purchased a Bonsai from a mate who became tired of it.
There are some tips to keep in mind when carving softwood.
1. Don’t create any hollows in the carving that will hold water and not drain.
2. Treat the carved wood with “lime sulphur” as soon as possible after carving.
3. Use “Earl’s” wood hardener on the same area. This product can be used on already rotted wood but is best used as a preventative treatment and is used to treat rot in boats. (available from “Bunnings Warehouse”)
4. When watering try to avoid continually wetting the deadwood unecessarily.
The tree was collected in 2005 and only one trunk was used in its design .
Some severe bends were created in its new trunk line.
Standing over one metre tall, it is very wide across its base.
After I purchased the tree I carved out some soft wood and gave it a couple of doses of lime sulphur and wood hardener.
I removed the lowest R.H.S. branch as I believe that for balance, the primary branch on a slanting tree should be on the opposite side to the direction of the slant. Further, I felt that the tree was too heavy for the very thin trunkline.
Did this tree fit in to a design category and could I improve it?
In spite of what some people may think, I don’t just cut branches for the sake of it.
To my eye, the tree lent itself to a “Literati” style, and if that is the case, not only did it require branches be removed but the base of the trunk required refinement as well. Further, the L.H.S. primary branch was wired down to follow the trunkline.
Some more carving refinement to the L.H.S. of the base, more branch refinement and the thought has crossed my mind that the bottom 3 branches could be removed to highlight the lovely trunk line on the top part of the tree.
What do you think?????
……………………………………………….
On reflection and looking at these photos I think I might “regrow” some foliage on the L.H.S. primary branch as in the December photo.
this tree caused a bit of debate in this forum, when it was recently offered for sale on e-bay.
You may like to see its development along its journey so far.
cheers
Dave
In October 2007 I purchased a Bonsai from a mate who became tired of it.
There are some tips to keep in mind when carving softwood.
1. Don’t create any hollows in the carving that will hold water and not drain.
2. Treat the carved wood with “lime sulphur” as soon as possible after carving.
3. Use “Earl’s” wood hardener on the same area. This product can be used on already rotted wood but is best used as a preventative treatment and is used to treat rot in boats. (available from “Bunnings Warehouse”)
4. When watering try to avoid continually wetting the deadwood unecessarily.
The tree was collected in 2005 and only one trunk was used in its design .
Some severe bends were created in its new trunk line.
Standing over one metre tall, it is very wide across its base.
After I purchased the tree I carved out some soft wood and gave it a couple of doses of lime sulphur and wood hardener.
I removed the lowest R.H.S. branch as I believe that for balance, the primary branch on a slanting tree should be on the opposite side to the direction of the slant. Further, I felt that the tree was too heavy for the very thin trunkline.
Did this tree fit in to a design category and could I improve it?
In spite of what some people may think, I don’t just cut branches for the sake of it.
To my eye, the tree lent itself to a “Literati” style, and if that is the case, not only did it require branches be removed but the base of the trunk required refinement as well. Further, the L.H.S. primary branch was wired down to follow the trunkline.
Some more carving refinement to the L.H.S. of the base, more branch refinement and the thought has crossed my mind that the bottom 3 branches could be removed to highlight the lovely trunk line on the top part of the tree.
What do you think?????
……………………………………………….
On reflection and looking at these photos I think I might “regrow” some foliage on the L.H.S. primary branch as in the December photo.