Elanden Gardens Project: Japanese Black Pine

Larry

Hmm, some of his work I find a bit too 'out there' for me. I mean, root over tank!?

I do like the Alien egg semi cascade Pinus mugo tho; I've seen that in the gallery on here:

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rockm

Did you look at the trees WITH the tank? The tank is merely an accent (which is made of bonsai pottery clay--Lenz makes his own containers) for the composition. Although Lenz uses some strange things with his trees, the tree most always are excellent and very natural looking--which is very hard to do well. For instance, look at the blue rug juniper -- usually a prostrate shrub that sprawls on the ground. Lenz used that unlikely material to produce a pretty astounding upright ragged old tree...

He enjoys greatly tweaking the nose of bonsai purists with root over plastic baby doll, gargoyles, tanks, anthropomorphic shapes, pots and other stuff. It's all in fun though, although some people are offended...

Larry

Oh i wouldnt say there are offensive, I just like to see the trees on their own-trees that good dont need extras!
The blue rug was OK but the one I really liked was the Juniperus chinensis-just fabulous!
http://www.artofbonsai.org/gallerie...aku_loop_03.jpg

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anttal63

i love nicks work!!! now where do i find dans work?

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Antonio . . .
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Larry

Yea I was wondering that too!

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Victrinia_Ensor

Well... The most comprehensive photographic display available on the internet, of his work, is found here actually. There is a large album in the gallery here, all of which are his trees. Listed under Elanden Gardens. Mind you, there are a lot of macros. Because Dan's work is in the details. And I was going crazy with the camera that day.


Dan isn't on the internet much. Which is why when he introduces me to everyone he calls me his "Public relations rep to the bonsai world." (laugh)

I'll try and post some other projects tonight. I am trying to make sure I photograph everything we work on, but some things are so basic, that I did not think to do so with some things.

Kind regards,

Victrinia

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Ms. Vic

Le belle cose prendono tempo...

www.elandangardens.com

anttal63

his carving work is great there is so much of it he has obviously had plenty of practice. but please tell me why there is many photos where the carving is so extensive but yet the trees are unfinished unrefined even under the naturalistic banner. are they more recently collected. its also interesting that the feature black pine was once a stick in a pot and still alive.

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Antonio . . .
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Victrinia_Ensor

Interestingly.... This stick in a pot that is still alive, is one of the only bonsai from dozens of seeds he planted at that time. So the example bares true.

You have to understand that with Dan, the show isn't the foliage. It is the trunk. Often times he feels the story being told by a particularly old and knarly trunk is completely defeated by the foliage. Therefore growing out crowns with any significant density is not a goal. Some of the excessively spare looking trees are junipers, on which he is having to battle some malady. He told me what it was... but... I can't remember.

Also... lets not fail to realize, excluding his personal collection at home... the growing beds.... and the nursery.... there are over 220 bonsai in the display garden alone. Which is why I get to do a lot of the grooming. I have no doubt the effect of my grooming the trees will decrease the lack of foliage you see... but I know already, he'll stop me before he lets any of them look like the crowns are too dense for his liking.

And if a tree is having a problem... is being worked on... or is new... it still goes in the display garden. Because it's a teaching garden.

And yes... some of the trees in the garden are newer additions. Especially when you look at some of the large particularly old stumps.

Kind regards,

Victrinia

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Ms. Vic

Le belle cose prendono tempo...

www.elandangardens.com

Dale Cochoy

This is advice I have given newbie carvers for many years. You always want to have one hand touching both the die grinder and the work, even if it is only a pinky touching the work it greatly increases stability ( and confidence).
Has Dan relayed three of THE most important rules to follow while carving??
1. DO NOT let anyone talk to you while you are carving!
2. DO NOT talk to anyone else while you are carving!
3. If someone insists on talking to you, stop what you are doing until the conversation is over. You can get hurt badly in the blink of an eye!

Have you met any of Dan's Ponderosa collecting buddies, Larry and Greg?
BTW, BrianBay will be moving real close to Larry in Denver area right about now.


Dale

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If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
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Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio