Poor Material

bnsaijim

Nah, I just have humble expectations right now.

I do think the "Student" critique can be a handy workshop tool however. IF you can keep a handle on the time.

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RonMartin(deceased)

It all depends on the students. You're group has been together for going on three years now. And you have almost got it all together.
You can critique a tree to your instructors (Colin) specifications. That is a good thing but, a more rounded education would help. At least it wouldn't hurt.

The critique should come from a broad spectrum of experience. Not just one course. Taught by one person. As good as he is you can only get his slant on things.
But that rounded experience will come in time.

bnsaijim

So a British expatriate that taught himself an Asian art with predominantly Europena natives and then decided he'd better take a closer look at Japanese styling isn't a rounded enough teacher? We're practically singing "we are the world" here! ;^)

I started out with about 10 years on my own- me and Bonsai Today. Hmmm... Lessee all the "classroom" instructors I've had in more or less chronological order...

Steve Deluane (beginner's group)
Dan Robinson (3 carving workshops)
Mary Miller
Ed Trout
Colin Lewis
Dennis Makashima
Chuck Ware
Gary Marchal (2 workshops + collecting weekend)
Mike Hansen (Former ABS President)(year-long JBP class)
Pedro Morales
Craig Coussins
Mashiko Kimura
Jim Barrett

Plus many other club members and demonstrators... and oh yeah, a whole lot of time spent with some guy by the name of Ron Martin...

Lots of strict "classicists" in the list as well as true American artists. My major obstacle is info-overload!

SO, I'm back to Colin after a long parade of names and faces. He has the most rounded of all approaches- just make good bonsai- if you do something, back it up.

I'm thinking I'm pretty well-rounded, too rounded if you ask my wife... Need to get back into shape- hey, spherical is a shape....

Jim Stone

RonMartin(deceased)

See what happens when I forget the politics and try to tell the truth as I see it like those other people in this thread said I should ;o)
It is easy to get ones hackles up. Just make them defensive. Make them think they can't pick a good tree.
Might be a bad way to prove a point but it worked.
Now if I had said that Colin Lewis has his way at looking at a tree and it is a good way. Actually an excellent way.
The other instructors that you have had also have a way that they see a tree.
What would happen if you took a bit from each instructors thoughts and then looked at the tree.
Would it be a better whay to critique. Would it be a better way to teach. To learn.
No hackles up just the point made. Easier to swallow .
By the way Jim your not fat just under tall
See you in Nov.

bnsaijim

No hackles up here!

I think your suggeston WOULD be an excellent way to approach it, but it might require the teacher to abandon some of his own style and some of his own prejudices. The teacher himself would have to be conversant in a larger range of styles.

Some on that list would be highly capable of looking at a tree in this manner. Others less so. At one time I wanted to be able to teach and style like this person or that person. Now I'm more inclined to go the route you suggest.

Whether a critique in this manner will result in better trees is open to debate, but at least you consider all possibilities.

Jim