bonsaial1

ART; 1: skill 2: branch of learning 3: creation of works of beauty or works so produced 4: ingenuity

While my dictionary is a pocket dictionary, I am sure there are more detailed discriptions than this. For the purposes of this thread I think they serve adaquatly.

Art in Bonsai, what does it mean? I am sure that it means different thingd to different people. I know it means different things to people right here on the forum. We have expressed differances in style and why we like certain things about the trees we see.

On the IBC there is a heated debate about the term of art within the realm of bonsai. Andy Rutledge is always ever present to come to the aid of art in bonsai. But.. there are opinions from others that make sense. While art in bonsai needs to follow certain asthetic art rules, what are they? Are they written down for all to follow? How do they apply to bonsai?

The rift, or so it seems, is that to produce tastefull and artfull bonsai, then a certain measure of the rules must be adheared to. One must learn the rules before they can be broken. Andy has made it quite clear that the rules are not 1,2,3 branch, the height must be 6 times the thickness of the trunk, 2/3 rule, or the rules that are written in the books.

I know very little about art appreciation. There are whole college courses that can be taken about it. For me, any way the art part is simple. I know about 's' curves, diminishing perspective, negative space, visual speed, forced perspective, taper, balance and symmetry. I am sure there are many aspects af art that I know nothing about. Of course I don't do world class bonsai, probably never will, and am not sure that is even a disire at this pont in my life.

What does all this have to do with this thread? I think the question is what does ART have to do with bonsai? I am not being flip here, this is a question.

Does the viewer have to be educated in art to view bonsai properly?

Does a person with an art degree become an artist automaticly?

Does having an art degree make you a better artist than someone that doesn't have an art background?

I can look at a tree that has been designed by someone else, I look at it, critique it in my head, think about the things I may have done different, and come to an assesment on whether or not I think this is good bonsai. If I am moved, It is good.

What are the criterion for these so called artist trees? What is it that makes them far and away better than the rest? What am I supposed to be looking for, or is it a feeling? Is is a display, maybe a three point display, maybe the pot, or the way the whole package is put together.

I feel that the promotion of bonsai on an artfull level must progress to a stage of higher learning. There must be someone that can put this down in words for all to understand? It can't be that complicated!

Andy what is Missing?

Best regards, Bonsai-al

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