Two Scenarios To Ponder

bonsaial1

No. 1: A bonai person. Very much into the bonsai scene. Goes to all the major events, conventions and shows. Has read many books and has made some very acceptable bonsai. A very talented bonsai artist, but works on very unacceptable stock most of the time due to finances.
Gets a chance to go to Japan to work with a Master. A 5 year program.

What will become of this person?

No. 2: A bonsai person sort of. Works on seeing how many trees will be killed this year. Has a vast collection of mallsai, and hundreds of small seedlings in all sorts of containers from milk cartons to washed out oil drums. Gets a chance to go to Japan to work with a Master. A 5 year program.

What will become of this person?

If both apply themselves, is it reasonable to say that each will come out rather equal?

I am not sure what I am trying to convey here. Maybe some will better be able to say what it is I am trying to say.
Maybe it is what is to be expected of learning with a Master?

Can they teach those that are not ready to learn?

Should someone not really ready to learn seek out expieranced help?

Exactly what should be expected from a learning enviornment away from home?

Are there secrets that are taught to pupils that are not yet written about in the West?


When guest artists come to your local club, have you ever sat back and really watched the process. Most artists will expect you to tell you a little about the plant, and what you envision for the future for the plant. At this point most will hardly ever tell you that your thoughts were totally out of this world, yet they may be thinking it. Are these guests really saving your libido or doing you a disservice? If the instructor comes around on the first pass and tells you to cut here and cut there, wire this up and wait till I get back, what have you really learned? The instructor gets back and bends the branch into place, and the corners of your mouth start to rise, and the spit in your mouth starts to dry out a little. Heck this is starting to look like something!

But again, what have you really learned? Would you be able to take a plant from scratch and do the same things over with a different set of complications? Obviously the plant will not be that same.

Just what is the best way to get educated in the art of bonsai?

Practise! Practise! Practise!

Tell me I'm curious...
Al

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Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.

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FredL

Al, let me tell you exactly what will happen to these two people. It's really obvious when you give it a little thought:

Person one will meet the very attractive daughter of a neighbor of the Bonsai Master, fall in love and quickly realize that his obsession with Bonsai will never make him able to support his family decently. He will propose marriage, promising to enter the field of Biotechnology in which he has his degree from a well regarded American university, return to the United States and never waste another minute of his time on Bonsai. In 20 years he and his lovely bride and three handsome children will be prosperous and happy, having completely forgotten the original purpose of his trip to Japan.

Person two will turn out to have a totally unexpected talent for Bonsai and in 3 years will be regarded as the second coming of Kimura and in five the greatest Bonsai Artist in Japan, to say nothing of North America. Unfortunately, it will turn out that he will contract a rare form of Bone Cancer and, despite the best efforts of specialists in Japan and the US, will die from it 6 months after his return to the US. For the next 50 years, bonsai lovers around the world will shake their heads sadly as they talk about the trees he might have created if only he had lived past his 28th birthday.

Now isn't this all obvious from the information you have given us?

Thanks for the opportunity to fully explain the Mystery of Life.

Fred

RonMartin(deceased)

Fred
That was good. I'm proud of you.

Nic

Besides Fred's very imaginative and creative interpretation of that material, is there actually any point to all this? I could handle the scenarios, but what are all the questions on about?????

Carl_Bergstrom

Fred,

That was your best post to date!

I love it.

-Carl

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In love with trees

bonsaial1

Fred..Priceless, now I understand, thanks for clearing that up!

__________________
Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.

Jay

First.... Nic is this you, the recent transplant to Australia?
If so..welcome..any new updates to your Bonsa Data Base?

Next regarding the original question, I could not come close to the wonderful, and obviusly correct answer from Fred. So, I will try and guess what could happen if Fred's conclusion was not played out.

OK I don't know...can't read into the future, but I bet that the answer will involve the talent that each indiviual brought with him to his Master. His/Her dedication and desire would also play into the equation and yea the capability of the chosen Master to be able to teach Bonsai as well as produce Bonsai would also be a factor.

Al.. there are those who go to workshops to learn how to do and those who go to work shops to have it done for them. Both get what they are looking for. One gets a tree (based on its original development) on its way to being a beauty, while the other gets an insight into the knowledge of how to get it there. Yea, there are also those who fall a bit into both groups....

my 2 cents
Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Attila

Hi Al,

I will try to use math for clarity:

First person
TALENT+DEDICATION+(EDUCATION*OPPORTUNITY)=WORLD CLASS ARTIST

Second person
NO TALENT+DEDICATION+(EDUCATION*OPPORTUNITY) = GOOD TEACHER

In case I have missed any variable from the above equations, let me know. Adding more factors may alter the outcome of the two scenarios.

Regards,
Attila

Attila

Fred,

c'mon Fred,... as a Computer Systems Development professional, aren't you supposed to simplify things?

You make John Grisham look like a beginner.

Best wishes,
Attila