Self Examination (a game)

bonsaial1

Self examination. No one wants to do it, but it is healthy and needs to be routinly done just like changing the oil in your car.

How so, troublemaker al?

Well we get stale. Its been a long hard summer. We need to clear our head and start thinking about projects for the spring. That's a start. But the self examination I am talking about is where your head is with bonsai. The threads about the critique started me thinking.. I said, self, there are lots here on the forum that may have never conducted a critique. They may not know what to look for. Self examination is stifling. It may be the hardest critique you ever do. There should be no one harder than yourself when it comes to things you have created. There are times when projects click and the creativity is way up and the project reflects the artistry you aimed for. In general as we proceed through bonsai this does not happen often enough.

So here is the challenge.

First, open a new thread in Show and Tell. Post one of your favorite trees. Post one that you feel is the best work you have ever done.

Second, Look at the picture, or better yet put the tree at eye level and start to scrutinize it. Look at all the details, look at the orientation in the pot, look at the pot. Study the trunk line and the branch structure. Really look at the plant objectivly.

Third, post a reply of your observations. Start with a small overview of the plant, list the positives and the negatives.

Fourth and finally, state an overview of work the remains to be done to take the plant where you envision it over the next couple of years. Not 30 years, the next couple of years. These should not be potensai, but plants that would be placed in an exhibition or nearly there.

In the end, you can plainly ask for input from the forum. It may be harsh or it may be soft. Its your choice to recieve it. The owner may elect to do the work offered or they may not wish to. In the end it is your tree and critiques are what they are. Opinion!

I think this exercise will awaken many to the fact that a critique can be a very harsh thing. Much more involved than some may wish to concede. There should be no hard feelings, the tree is your own and you can be as hard on yourself as you want. Just be truthful though, if you are going to wimp out,what good does that do?

Any takers?

Have fun, Bonsai -al

__________________
A tree a day...thats all we ask.

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DavidN

Al,
I have kind of beaten you to that but I put my tree up for critique by Walter. I knew the tree needed work to get it looking better but I got to a point where I couldn't see the problems with the tree anymore and used an Australian master and then Walter to critique it. I believe Walter was very honest with his critique and I like his ideas for the tree.

Now the Walter has put his response up anyone can post.

Here is the link: http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...69917#post69917

John Dixon

Okay Al,

I'm putting up a tree (maybe two) for you to critique in Show and Tell. Once you do, I will give you an honest history of the tree(s).

I'm pretty thick-skinned and not prone to bite. I appreciate everyone's suggestions too, not just Al's.

Let the good times roll,

John

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

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

FredL

Al, I guess I just don't get it. Maybe it's related to my failure to quite get Bonsai as a Western Artform. If Bonsai is all about bringing out the best in a living tree, why is anybody going to be upset about somebody else offering their ideas? Just because I'm fond of a particular tree doesn't mean I wouldn't like to hear your ideas on how to make it better.

On another thread, I offered my suggestion that you get a section of your own to critique trees, much as Walter does. I would LOVE to get your suggestions on my trees. Show and Tell is fine as far as it goes, but it's pretty much catch as catch can. And my trees are nowhere near good enough to go to Walter.

You have alot more talent and experience than I have. Believe me, I would greatly appreciate your comments on my trees. In view of my level of talent, I think your hope that the experience might refine my sensibilities might be hoping for too much, but, at least my trees might benefit.

Fred

bonsaial1

I think you guys, ( John Dixon and FredL) need to go back and read this post. I do not actually want to critique anyones trees perse. I want "you", the owner, to take a self examination of your own work and be honest with yourself. At that time, after you have talked about your tree, you can go ahead and request others to add additional comments or ask for a full critique if you want. This game, exercise, is to help show that a critique is a very complex thing. You look at your trees as a whole everyday, but do you look at your trees?

Do you look at them as bonsai, or do you look at them as your babies?

Al

__________________
A tree a day...thats all we ask.