Mr. Al,
Beautiful material...I really like what you have done with the new planting angle...This does help to eliminate some of the heaviness I am feeling in the trunk...I would humbly suggest carving the deadwood to 'lighten' it even more...One can never be certain from a photo, but it appears there is a somewhat hollow area [marked in red]...If not I would carve it to hollow it, and if it is I would make that deeper...I would then extend this hollow area upward to the tip as indicated in pale blue or grey [can't really tell on my screen]...This would also allow you to remove a considerable amount of the deadwood at the inside of the curve[black], thereby giving the whole image a more light appearance with the added bonus of creating some additional taper to the main trunk...
As you know I am not really fond of the triangular canopy on my own trees, but I do still appreciate one that is well done...I think what you have proposed as a future canopy shape will work very well with this tree...It will in my opinion look like a bonsai, and that is intended as a compliment...
I love your choice of pot for the tree, and think if the overall image of the tree were lighter the pot would compliment it even more...
I would certainly welcome your thoughts on my vision of the tree...Perhaps by discussing this we can both learn, and help others to learn also...
Regards
Behr
PS...I do hope you don't turn this tree into one of them 'Han-kengai' things...Whatever that is...I believe it will look better as a tree...
__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.