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Good post Vance.
There is room for all levels in bonsai. Whether it is a craft, hobby or art is not all that important. That you reach a level that brings you joy is.
If you are happy with your trees then why go further. If not then you have a ways to go.
Years ago just about everybody was talking about something called the Peter Principal. That is where a worker does a good job so he/she gets a promotion.This keeps happening till the worker reaches a level on incompetence. At that point they are fired.
If one is a good janitor and enjoys the job then why would you want to make him become a rocket scientist.
If where you are at in bonsai fulfills your needs then you have arrived. You just have to be a bit smarter than most to know when you have reached your plateau.
Name tags really don't matter. Art, craft, hobby are just words. Self fulfillment is a much nicer thing. It will bring more people to bonsai than all those other words.
I am not an artist , a craftsman or a hobbyist. I am a bonsaiest. I do bonsai because it is the most fun that I can have with my clothes on.
That is not a bad thing.

26-Jun-2005	#8
RonMartin(deceased) Bonsai nare-do-well Join Date: Jan-2003 Location: Summerville SC Country: USA USDA Zone: 8A AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 4,653	Good post Vance. There is room for all levels in bonsai. Whether it is a craft, hobby or art is not all that important. That you reach a level that brings you joy is. If you are happy with your trees then why go further. If not then you have a ways to go. Years ago just about everybody was talking about something called the Peter Principal. That is where a worker does a good job so he/she gets a promotion.This keeps happening till the worker reaches a level on incompetence. At that point they are fired. If one is a good janitor and enjoys the job then why would you want to make him become a rocket scientist. If where you are at in bonsai fulfills your needs then you have arrived. You just have to be a bit smarter than most to know when you have reached your plateau. Name tags really don't matter. Art, craft, hobby are just words. Self fulfillment is a much nicer thing. It will bring more people to bonsai than all those other words. I am not an artist , a craftsman or a hobbyist. I am a bonsaiest. I do bonsai because it is the most fun that I can have with my clothes on. That is not a bad thing.