Earl

Thanks for some inspiring ideas. Another thought you mentioned that I whole heartedly agree with is the difference between hobby and art. We have argued this idea before and I have maintained that we often get wrapped up in the "how to" and technique without really looking at a tree or trees from an artistic standpoint. I don't think I have read a bonsai book that ever even discussed the perspective of an artist as oppossed to a hobbyist in anything but a passing way. I do think we would get much further if, when we look for the superior stock, we would think "What is my artistic goal with this tree? What am I trying to say, as an artist, through this tree?"

I'm certainly not making anything less of a hobbyist--I consinder myself one--but someday I would like to be an artist. And I know we have to start with techniques and master those first. But that artistic drive needs to be in the back of our minds at all times.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughts and for stimulating a great discussion.

Earl