A Question of Attitude

bonsaial1

It’s all about attitude

Bonsai needs to be broken down into smaller groups. There are certainly different camps of competence, style, taste, and talent. There are those that wish to do bonsai for the fun of it. To relax in the backyard and bask in the glow of their own accomplishments, and then there are those that go in the backyard and wish to throw the entire collection in the conflagration in hopes of starting over with better plants.

Which attitude have you adopted?

I possess this one:

*I strive to do the most artistic bonsai possible. I feel that this is accomplished thru buying the best stock I can afford. I read tirelessly thru as many articles or books possible about artistic presentations of bonsai and what I can gain from them.

*I will only take photographs of my trees that will help showcase the tree for the viewer. My photo’s will include a stand and backdrop, and the image will be clear and well lit for the best presentation possible. To display an image that does not meet these criteria is not adopting my correct attitude.

*My pots and stands will be kept in the best condition possible. They will be clean of mineral deposits and shown with a coat of mineral oil or mink oil. Stands will be dusted and waxed when needed. There is no excuse to allow these artistic accoutrements to deteriorate into disrepair.

*I will strive to help others to see the need to seek out sound artistic principles when creating bonsai. Not only will this improve their own bonsai, but also that attitude may be passed on to others in their own circle of bonsai enthusiasts.

I have found that the longer bonsaiTALK exists, the larger the rift between those that seek out the more artistic elements of bonsai, and those that do bonsai for backyard enjoyment. The broken tooth in the cog seems to be those that do bonsai for backyard enjoyment do not wish to hear that the plant they value so highly are something less than artistic and should be challenged with better stock. While the backyarder may not have means, access or talent to move up, neither should they argue in defense of substandard trees either. While I employ a golden rule mentality about ethics and bonsai, it would be out of character for me to try to defend a twig in a pot. In fact, it may very hard for me to defend a sapling in a pot. I have a very clear-cut guideline on what defines a bonsai and a plant in a pot.
Those that come to a bonsai community forum for help need to realize that they are going to receive evaluations from a broad range of bonsai intellectuals. It may range from recognized bonsai masters to those that have fabulous amateur collections, and those just starting out in bonsai like themselves.

All information may be valuable to someone in the course of a thread on a discussion forum. There are those of differing talent levels, Some will be talented and some just starting out will find it necessary to defend their piece of the forum ranking. I have no problem with this, with the exception of dismissing fabulous information due to ignorance. If someone does not understand the information given it is the responsibility of the asker to ask more questions, seek second opinions, or seek local advice with the intention of understanding the aforementioned advice. It does no good to try to argue your way out of the debate on the side of ignorance or that in light of asking for help, you suddenly out of thin air now possess the wisdom of the ages and can refute everything said.

The attitude that comes across in the words that are typed are the ones on which you will be judged. There is only one way to go in bonsai, forward. To take a lackluster view and then try to defend that view is suicide. Those on the quest for bonsai betterment will swallow you up. I would think that the train has left the station so to speak. I am near the front shoveling coal keeping the engine moving. If you are on the passenger platform waiting for the next train, I suggest you start running and try to catch the one that just whizzed by. You will be better for it!

Bonsai-al

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Experience is fundamental

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Adam_MA

Al,
Great points, and of course very well said. I do have one question for you...
You said: "I have a very clear-cut guideline on what defines a bonsai and a plant in a pot." Would you mind explaining to me this guideline? I am interested to hear how someone with your talent and ability for creating artistic trees defines bonsai, or not.

Thanks
Adam

rockm

Al,

Well said. You will now be called names and roundly condemned... This entire discussion will be called elitist and hopelessly snobbish by some. Put on protective headgear

If you watch American Idol on TV, you will sometimes notice the contestants who sing the most severly off-key sometimes protest the loudest...

John Dixon

Al,

No one with an open mind could read your post and NOT know where you stand. Well done. I have always found you to be sincere and to-the-point. While I don't always agree, I have a constant respect for those that back up their position with convictive rapport. You are that way.

The only attitude that I cannot concur with is a BAD one. To be vindictive and insulting just because is neither insightful nor entertaining. Luckily, this forum has very few of those. Most who post here have a genuine interest in bonsai and aren't trying to create their own personal argument forum. As with any form of critique, the person seeking advice must be prepared to receive some bad news (it can't all be good). The manner of the critique cannot be empathized enough. Fire-breathing responses are either met with angry reparte or ignored altogether. Firm, yet encouraging points, go a long way in helping others achieve their highest level of skill.

That is what changes a group into a "band of brothers".

Warmest regards,

John

__________________
John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

pootsie

Al, I'm with you. I do not have display-worthy trees yet, and the longer I go, the farther away "display-worthy" becomes.


A most appropriate and astute observation, and I concur in this sentiment. Good thing, there are more than enough "Simons" around here to keep 'em in check!

pootsie

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p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

Ralph

I disagree with the "us verus them mentality" that you appear to suppose in your article. When I began to become familiar with bonsai 4 years ago, like many, I had no education on bonsai as an art form, to me it was these plants that grew in pots usually by asian people on the side of the road. It was something that Pat Marita did in a movie. I had little interest in this. Then I saw an exhibition put on by my club, and I saw real bonsai for the first time. I saw how they were presented, and I talked with club members, some professional artists, and some backyard hobbyists. While this was an enlightening introduction to bonsai as an art, I still had no idea how to go about producing bonsai myself. I did not decide to pursue bonsai at that time, in fact it was a year or so later, when my fancy was taken by one of those roadside junipers. I still did not think to myself, now I have a bonsai, and I will learn to create my own bonsai. No, I began scouring the internet, looking for care information for this plant. I rather suspect that is how many of us get our feet wet so to speak.
When I found the forum in May 2002, I began to read more about all aspects of bonsai, and my interest began to grow from a desire to learn to take care of a plant, to learn more about how to do bonsai in its entirety. I registered in June, and my introduction said something about learning if this was a hobby for me.
I invested in tools, books, and began to read more, I acquired nursery stock, much of it not well suited for a beginner learning how to create bonsai, but I kept trying.
In late 2003, I took perhaps my most quantifiable step to moving in a more serious direction in my development when a forum member here, and really terrific artist invited me to attend a meeting of the Bonsai Society of Dallas. Like many thriving clubs, ours is a mixture of professional artists, collectors, and hobbyists, of all varying levels and walks of life.
In 2005, I am once again elevating what bonsai is for me. I beleive that what I have learned to date has given me the tools to care for and create more artistic bonsai. I have a strong desire to become more involved in shows, and displaying my material. I will take private lessons this year. I have begun constructing several benches, grow beds, and procurring items that will allow me to take better care of my plant material. I have secured permission from a number of landowners, and will collect more stock from the wild this year (in fact, I will be on digs for the next 3 weekends straight).
I know that I will never be as good as some of my fellow club members, and for me bonsai will always be somewhere between art and hobby, but it will be what I want from bonsai, and it's likely to continue to grow and change over the years. I will meet my needs, and satisfy myself, and in return, I will share back with the bonsai community, and maybe introduce more acolytes who will find their own way.
Bonsai doesn't have to be, and should not be an us versus them mentality. Bonsai is and should be differing people from all walks of life, doing bonsai at all levels.
It shouldn't frustrate to the point of anger those that desire to develop more artistically, that someone else just wants to grow trees in their backyard, and share their experiences with others.
I am thankful that more experienced people such as Al, Thomas J., Matt , and so many more of you have taken the time to share with me and all the rest of us from your own pool of wisdom. Thanks for the community.

__________________
Emerging from winter slumber
Bonsai trees burst buds anew
Spring is upon us!


-Paul S.

Will_Heath

Very astute observation and amazingly true.

Ralph,

You outline your travels in bonsai quite well and one thing I noticed was a progression from nothing toward better bonsai and a hope to continue improving.

This is what we all strive toward, to improve our skills and create better bonsai. But what is at the end of the road what does the learning and efforts lead to? Why artistic bonsai of course. It is the failure to admit that this is the end goal that separates the two camps.

Notice also that there are no people that I know of that has reached this level who claims it is only a hobby or craft and they should be allowed to display sticks in pots without critique. In fact, it is the people who have not yet created decent, artistic, well designed bonsai that screams "hobby" the loudest. I wonder if it is only a way to avoid simply saying "I am not at that level yet."

Great thread Al, keep on going forward.


Will

Oh and in case you're wondering, I am not at that level yet.

Thomas_J.

Originally Posted by Ralph ,


Wrong attitude there Ralph.
Even if you keep it at hobby level, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to be just as good or even surpass your fellow club members. You already have the potential in the fact that you are taking bonsai as serious
as you seem to be. If i'm right in my observations about what you said about bonsai being somewhere between art and hobby, it won't be long before it will be all art for you. When that happens is just a matter of time. As you go collecting, you will need to style these specimens, and it will be done by what you have learned through seeing others work that may have inspired you to a certain direction, or what you have learned through a one on one either with a fellow club member, or a teacher at a workshop, and by applying some of the basic design rules. From all of this you will probably begin to develop your own style. I think at that point you will probably say that it is more than a hobby.

I could say this for anyone who feels that they will never advance; the more time you put into it, and the quality of that time, and the attitude you take, the better you will get.

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Thomas J.

rockm

Ralph, your progression though bonsai is admirable. You have obviously made an effort to seek out what makes good bonsai, instead of thinking your initial thoughts about it sprang from the fountainhead of truth. You, I think, are like the majority of bonsai folks out there.

My progression was much like yours. On "finding" bonsai, I devoured every bonsai book I could get my hands on. Made an effort to get out and see them. Lost a few trees. Asked around for and took advice. Got smacked down occasionally--didn't take it personally, at least for the most part. Was embarassed to find that alot of my brilliant "original" ideas were really old discarded ones, just plain wrong, just plain silly, or all three.

For what it's worth, one day (and it will probably come sooner than you think) you will notice that your trees are just as good or better than those you've been watching in your club. This realization comes over time, but comes.