important elements

zen

I'm gunna go with Matt and Mike on this one.
As Matt stated the root base can be "fixed" but a lack of over all character can't be that easily corrected.

This of course holds true more so with larger stock, where it's more difficult to make major changes in the trees basic structure, whereas if one works works with trees in the shito, mame, and small shohin sizes, and has nimble fingers, this is not as much of a factor. {DEEP BREATH}
Most of my stuff is in these smaller ranges, I like working in this range as it kind of relieves me from having to worry TOO much about most of this criteria. So long as it's growth habits and leaf size will work, I have a lot more control over the final outcome of the image.

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"Although profoundly "inconsequential," the Zen experience has consequences in the sense that it may be applied in any direction, to any conceivable human activity, and that wherever it is so applied it lends an unmistakable quality to the work."

~ Alan Watts (1915-1973)

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