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I personally don't mind the "life in the tea garden" imagery of lush green foliage contrasting with tortured trunk. But I do expect the two to interact. I want to see deadwood interlaced among the foliage, and visa versa. A white jin or two emerging from the canopy would work wonders.
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I feel that Carl had brought up some great points about this juniper, and I really had other things going and did not come back to finish my thoughts.
In jest I have introduced some deadwood sticking above the foliage outline. Is this more of what you had in mind Carl? No, I don't think so. I used to feel the same way. I thought that a really healthy looking canopy on a deadwood juniper was out of place. But as I am drawn to the more abstract, artistic side of bonsai, I see that need for the tension.
Compare the two images I have sumitted, both from Boon's BIB show this past year. The small shohin juniper by Jim Gremmel, and the large grafted juniper of Boon Manikivitipart. Both have very sculptured trunks, some jins on the trunk, and very lush canopies. They lack jins in the crown though. There is a very unique distinction between these three trees, ( although mine could hardly hold a candle to the other two) they are very abstract. They are contrived human representations of a tree growing in a harsh condition, but loveingly cared for by their insane masters.
This spring will be the real test for this tree in this pot. It is rather small, but I think I can really improve this tree even more. Who knows, I may change my mind and go a different direction altogether by fall, I've done that too!
~Smoke~