Attila

In my eyes, for a bonsai critic to be credible, he/she must have spent a considerable time (several years) studying all of the following:

Horticulture.

Bonsai masterpieces. What makes them being recognized as masterpieces? What was the intention of the artist in creating those trees? Listen (or read) to what the artist feels about a particular masterpiece.

Principles of classical bonsai design and understand the reasoning behind those principles.

Trees. Old trees. What is that deeply affects us when looking at them?

The language of visual arts and principles of design.

Am I asking too much?

Wishing lots of beautiful bonsai for the new year,
Attila