My first workshop

[cre8ivbonsai]

Today I participated in a workshop run by Chris Di Nola. It was the first workshop I've ever been apart of and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. It was great to learn and build upon skills, techniques and knowledge, and the opportunity to turn some mature stock (for which I was in need of some more experienced guidance) into trees that now have a clear plan to become finished bonsai.
Prior to this year I was largely self taught from books, video demos, exhibitions etc, then I joined my local bonsai club (Waverley) and have gained more experienced though observation, live demos and conversing with more experienced members, and today was the next step which I found quite rewarding. I would encourage anyone who hasn't partaken in a workshop before, to contact your local club, and signup when a workshop opportunity arises. One tip though, come prepared, although I got by with what I had, I definitely need to invest in a broader range of wire.
I'll definitely do another workshop in the future! Thanks again to Chris for a great afternoon, it has increased both my confidence and knowledge base in dealing with these and other trees.
Cheers, Ryan.

[Tony Bebb]

Great to hear about your positive response to workshop. Especially with Chris.

Workshops tend to be underated, but for mine can be more educational than a demo. You just need to be in the right frame of mind and pay attention to others trees as well as your own. You also don't have too pay much for expert advice on your own tree, regardless of how much time you get relative to others. This is stuff you cannot get from books.

I hope you continue to attend future opportunities.

Tony

[Watto]

Ryan,
Any photos?

[Scott Martin]

It was a great day. Chris is fantastic and very helpful.

I agree with your advice about bringing a heap of gear and wire to the workshops. If it wasn't for some very kind fellow participants I would have been caught well short!

Hopefully tomorrow I can upload some pics of the day's work.

[cre8ivbonsai]

... and finally ... after procuring a makeshift steel stake (following the breakage of the initial bamboo one) ... the photos ... this is the juniper. Cleaned out, pinched out, trimmed, wired and staked, it is now ready for a few years refinement and attention.

Chris also helped me work on a trident maple which was pretty much a chop down ready for couple of years new branch development, I will save that for a progression post later on.

Cheers , Ryan

[Chris Di Nola]

It was great working with you mate.

Once that apex sets into pleace time for a second workshop mate, if it dosent stay in place, lets move to plan 2 MAME.

[cre8ivbonsai]

It was great working with you mate.

Once that apex sets into pleace time for a second workshop mate, if it dosent stay in place, lets move to plan 2 MAME.

it'll hold

... definitely a great day, learned a lot, can't wait for the next one

hmm mame huh, I've got a couple of other candidates

Thanks again, Ryan