bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post

Hi all, I saw this thread earlier but did not have the proper time to read it all or digest the posts. Now that I have, I hope you will not mind if I put in my 2 cents worth.

First, I find it interesting that this thread has managed to attract most of the more advanced to professional types that come to this board. (NOTE: I do not include myself in this group).

To my thinking, Art and Artist are not linked. Let me explain. I feel that I am progressing in my ability and will at some point be worthy of being an artist. My work (trees) are progressing and may or may not ever be ART. The ability of any individual to produce anything to the level of ART is partial based on their training, their work ethic and their inborn ability. I can train and learn and practice as much as anyone, but my inborn ability can only be stretched so far.

As for the 'rules', they are helping me see things clearly. I will not necessarily follow them to the 'T' but use them to help me. As a guide or crutch that is always there!

I do not feel that a tree styled by a famous Bonsai Artist is necessarily ART. It may be some day, or not! A tree styled by an unknown newbie with little training can be ART (or not).

My simple explanation is..... If I see a tree, it catches my eye, I enjoy it, it isn't art. If that tree moves me and reminds me of a mental image of a tree, it is ART. Notice I said 'my explanation', yours might be different. Art to me is Personal. I have seen many things in museums and art galleries that are there because they are 'ART', I do not like them and do not appreciate them, to me, they ain't ART!

16-Dec-2002	#40
Jay YOU CAN NOT RUSH TIME Join Date: Sep-2001 Location: Jeffersonville Vt Country: USA USDA Zone: 4 AHS Heat Zone: 3 Posts: 2,154	Hi all, I saw this thread earlier but did not have the proper time to read it all or digest the posts. Now that I have, I hope you will not mind if I put in my 2 cents worth. First, I find it interesting that this thread has managed to attract most of the more advanced to professional types that come to this board. (NOTE: I do not include myself in this group). To my thinking, Art and Artist are not linked. Let me explain. I feel that I am progressing in my ability and will at some point be worthy of being an artist. My work (trees) are progressing and may or may not ever be ART. The ability of any individual to produce anything to the level of ART is partial based on their training, their work ethic and their inborn ability. I can train and learn and practice as much as anyone, but my inborn ability can only be stretched so far. As for the 'rules', they are helping me see things clearly. I will not necessarily follow them to the 'T' but use them to help me. As a guide or crutch that is always there! I do not feel that a tree styled by a famous Bonsai Artist is necessarily ART. It may be some day, or not! A tree styled by an unknown newbie with little training can be ART (or not). My simple explanation is..... If I see a tree, it catches my eye, I enjoy it, it isn't art. If that tree moves me and reminds me of a mental image of a tree, it is ART. Notice I said 'my explanation', yours might be different. Art to me is Personal. I have seen many things in museums and art galleries that are there because they are 'ART', I do not like them and do not appreciate them, to me, they ain't ART! __________________ A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49... Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing