Pot Suggestions

David Chauvin

Walter's "playing around" illustrates how subtle things contribute greatly to the final image. Often I see a fine tree and think "how obvious". But is it really? Pot selection, planted angle, potted height of root ball, a bit of moss, a subtle change of front....all of these and more add up to the sum total. Then there are the aspects of proper display, or making photos that represent what we see sitting on the bench. What appears simple suddenly turns very complex.

Like most other learning efforts, I find that creating bonsai consists of a series of "AH HA!" moments when a light turns on in my head and a concept that I've read a dozen times becomes clearer. Even though these moments are few and far between, they keep the juices flowing and make me hungry for another, because every revelation opens a door to new questions. The depth of knowledge and intuition required to make truly fine bonsai is immense, but if it was easy, the goal wouldn't be as alluring.

What's the point of this? I guess it's just a way to reason why bonsai has affected me to the extent that it has, and to say how valuable this (and the IBC forum) has been to stimulating the brain about how and why we do bonsai.

Thanks Again,

David

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"With the death of the Shamen, artists are the last interpreters of the Divine." Joseph Campbell