Styling Problems .

Elm237

I am still some what of a beginer to the art of bonsai.I was wondering though did all you who are non-beginers, have problems styling some of your first trees?To me I will sit down and look at a tree and go okay 1st branch, 2nd branch so on and so forth but its like I am hitting a brick wall.I read books and have taken lessons but my trees that I style look "wierd". I was wondering if other people experenced this problem when it came time to style thier first trees.I have a elm that I know exactly what do do with it because I have a visual, it is like a guide as to what to do.When I don't have a visual is when I don't know what to do or looks bad if I do it.Well I could go on and on.I am having trouble wording this but if other people have had similiar problems they will know what I mean.Be honest even though I am hoping that everyone has experenced this problem to some degree. Thanks

__________________
Elm237

Advertisement

pootsie

Nope. You're the only one. You are a freak and all alone.

OK, just kidding

I have been trying to see the trees inside of trees. Its taking me some time to do it.

pootsie

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

mkonig

I am with you on that one - Totally.
I have been working on bonsai for more than ten years now and stil have the same problem.
The easy answer is - take your time and don't expect instant results.
Most trees that are newly styled look strange and often bedragled for some time. The projected or desired image takes a long time to achieve and by then you have probably changed your mind or improved your standard and you might well start from scratch.

Kind regards

Mike

__________________
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person

cbobgo

This is the artistic part of bonsai - once you've figured out how to keep them alive, you have to figure out how to make them look good.

I guess to some people it comes naturally, but to most of us it takes alot of work. You have to spend alot of time working on trees, and thinking about trees, and drawing trees. Take your trees to master's workishops - get ideas from them. Try to get them to explain why they make the design decisions they do.

You will eventually start seeing what needs to be done.

- bob

__________________
"As a twig is bent the tree inclines" - Virgil (70BC-19BC)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Check out my blog: bonsaiapprentice

agraham

I don't mean to discourage you but I've been growing bonsai for over 30 years and i still have very few(read one or two) trees that I'm satisfied with.

I have many trees and sometimes I just look at them and have no idea how to improve them...and the worst part is that the better they start to look....the more critical i become .

If it were easy,we'd all be "masters".....but it's just so damn much fun anyway .

andy

Elm237

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I will just have to keep working at it.

__________________
Elm237

ethanopia

I hope I'm not suggesting the obvious, but I would suggest taking a peek at two books. Bonsai Techniques I by Naka and Bonsai Life histories by Martin Treasure.

The Naka book because his drawings clearly explain the extablished styles.

And Martin Treasure's ""Bonsai Life Histories because he has pictures of when he first obtained the material through about 10 years of development. Before I saw this book my idea of how trees were developed was certainly different.

You probably weren't looking for book reccomendations but it's all I got because I'm a begginner too ;-)

sebastianromero

I have this story. Nine yearsago,I came from Africa and planted a mahoganny tree. I have been looking for indications over this tree and I never found it. Nevertherless I kept growing itas a bonsai and it take a marvelous natural "S" form. This last year I decided to prun it to make it branch. It did branch,but lost that clear defined line. Right now I am at the same pointas you...recover the lost form, or start on a new one based on the new branches? The answer is...I JUST DON'T KNOW!!!

Sebastian

__________________
sebastián