Wha? Huh?
I have been on this forum awhile now. Been into bonsai awhile as well. I am a student of bonsai, mostly self taught, because there are no schools of bonsai here in Noreast Mn, and I cant afford to take time away from my family and go to Japan to study with a master.....but if I could.....I still wouldnt. Is that because I think that the Japanese way of Bonsai blew with the wind
? NO, far from it.
I began my love of bonsai in Japan. No Joke. Stationed there, I was introduced to the fine of art of Bonsai...not just "Japanese" bonsai, but BONSAI. And beautiful they were. Sure, the artists were Japanese. But it was their art that pulled me into this world.
In the US, I have found collections in Florida, Colorado, and here in Minnesota that all capture that feeling I had when I first saw the ancient trees in Japan. Not one of these artists were taught by any school or Master for that matter. Two were self taught. The other was taught by an American Master from California.
And I agree whole heartedly with Earl. Period.
Paul