FredL

For those that took the trouble to respond to me, personally, "Thank you". I always feel pleased when my comments are stimulating enough to get a response.

Let me say that I started out by noting that I was speaking only about my personal Bonsai Philosophy, not any sort of Universal Principles. I may be speaking for a minority of one, but as a Bonsai Practitioner, I feel more akin to model railroaders than great (or little) painters. I guess that for me, craftsmanship evokes the spirit of Model Railroading better than artistry. As it better evokes the spirit of what I, personally, am trying to do.

Now, I am sure all this is debatable. I am not trying to persuade anybody of anything, merely trying to make my thoughts available.

The people that I have liked best in the bonsai community seem to have an attitude of humility and are very down-to-earth. They totally lack the sort of over-blown grandiosity that, to me, seems to charactarize the effort to explain bonsai as art. Most of the bonsaists that I've liked best I think would be happy to be considered craftsmen. I'd be happy to attain that status, myself.

Best regards, Fred