The Artistry Of Al Keppler

Carl_Bergstrom

Hello everyone,

The stand that Al Keppler made for me - described in detail in this thread - arrived yesterday morning.

I knew it was going to be good, because I'd seen his pictures. But seeing the pictures and actually holding the real thing in my hands are completely different. The wood is gorgeous, and the craftsmanship is exquisite.

Any of my largest trees can be displayed on this stand, without overwhelming it. What a great thing!

This afternood I set up the photo backdrop to take a few pictures. As promised, here they are. These aren't show-ready trees. I've only had them for a year, they're still in mica pots, and I have a lot of work left to do before the designs are realized. But even though I don't currently own any trees that do the stand justice, I really wanted to show all of you the beautiful work that Al has done.

With my best regards,
Carl

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In love with trees

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Carl_Bergstrom

First, the collected mountain hemlock for which the stand was custom-made. I've shown it at its future planting angle. This one has a long way to go, but I like where it is headed.

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Carl_Bergstrom

Second, my white pine.

With my best regards to all,
Carl

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In love with trees

bonsaial1

Awesome fit there dude. That stand is the perfect size for the tree. I really like that way this planting is coming along. I find that the smaller trees on the side of the raft to be the focal point somehow of the whole composition.

Nice photo too. I like your backdrops.

Thanks for all the kind words, and maybe next year we can get you one of those three tier shohin stands!

wood hacker-al

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bonsaial1

That is one hell of a white pine there! The shape and trunk are great. The taper of the branches going up the trunk are proportional, and the apex is in the correct place.

That right lower branch when removed, will make this tree a masterpiece in the future.

Regards, Bonsai-al

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Carl_Bergstrom

Thanks, Al! It really is a perfect match for the tree. I wish you could see it in person. Of those two smaller trees, the innermost goes almost straight back, like a back branch, the outermost goes forward and to the right. I should have taken some pictures from the side.

As you can see, the tree needs a lot of (subtle, not Dan Robinson-esque) carving around the base, a lot of secondary and tertiary branching, and a lot of detail work. I didn't detail-wire the upper portion, because I want the tree to grow strongly for another couple of years.

Patience!

With my best regards,
Carl

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In love with trees

Carl_Bergstrom

Thanks also. You're right about that lower branch. It'll eventually be removed. The next-lowest, on the left, may go as well. We'll see.

The biggest problem with this tree is the long relatively taper-free, movement-free section that begins just above the second branch.

For now, I'm just enjoying the process of learning about the annual care cycle for this tree, watching it respond with vigor and ever-improving health.

With my best regards,
Carl

__________________
In love with trees

bonsaial1

I like that first branch on the left. This branch comes from the trunk in the perfect position relative to the first bend in the trunk, which usualy dictates where the first branch should be. Having a good turn in the trunk with no branch to take advatage of it would start to dictate literati, and then the eye would become confused. Just my take though. When a first branch starts below a nice bend like that, and is on the wrong side, it once again confuses the eye.

I have taken the liberty to do a virtual of the tree in a new pot, and removed the first right branch. The second right branch has been bent down, and the crown has been filled in a little with some branches shortened.

This is going to be a good one though, and I wish I could grow them here!

Regards, Bonsai-al

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grampz

Al,

This beautiful stand does improve with trees sitting in place on top...what a fine example of the wood working art once again...

Carl,

The hemlock is coming along nicely...I thought this was a great design when you first posted it after the workshop...I still think it is...rarely does one see such a natural looking group originating from one root...I also like the look of the pine, and look forward to watching both of these develop with your care...

Thanks for sharing...

Regards
Behr