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10-Oct-2003
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Expert
Join Date: Apr-2003
Posts: 184
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Re-styling A Collected Wild Olive.
About ten years ago I collected this olive. It took a few years before it started to grow. I did some carving about five or six years ago . Because I wanted some options I let it become rather full in spite of many suggestions to prune it back.
Hank Last edited by Hank Miller : 10-Oct-2003 at 12:27 PM. |
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10-Oct-2003
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Expert
Join Date: Apr-2003
Posts: 184
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Yesterday I decided to prune back to what I originally had in mind
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10-Oct-2003
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK Expert
Join Date: Apr-2003
Posts: 184
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This is a quick virtual of what I hope it will look like in another 6 -12months
Last edited by Hank Miller : 10-Oct-2003 at 12:29 PM. |
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10-Oct-2003
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#4 |
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Attila Soos
 Join Date: Jan-2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Country: USA
Posts: 1,946
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Hi Hank,
I will take a big chance here by criticizing your tree. It may result in making you hate me for the rest of your life. However, since you are the one who is asking for feedback, I will express my honest opinion. The form that you have chosen for this, otherwise wonderful olive, doesn't do any justice to the tree. It looks entirely artificial and robs it of all the dignity, usually characteristic of this species. My first impression was to smile and call it "The Wizard of Oz" because of the jinned apex, often seen on the conifers of high mounains. To me this style is everything that an olive tree should NOT be. I have no doubt that you master the craft of creating formal upright bonsai. I just think that in this case you are way of in choosing the right subject for the style. My recommendation is to look at the pictures of old olive trees and let them inspire you. I am very curious what's the opinion of our friends on this forum. So, now I am going to sit back and roll with the punches that I undoubtedly deserve for putting down a work that must have taken many years to create. I apologize in advance. Regards, Attila |
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10-Oct-2003
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#5 |
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GUEST
Join Date: Jul-2002
Country: Australia
Posts: 291
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Why does it look a virtual? have you blacked out the background?
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10-Oct-2003
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#6 |
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Charles Bevan
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I must disagree with Attila. This is a great style for the tree. He collected a tree with a straight trunk so the style is already a given. Hank knows what he is doing.
Good job! Keep us updated.
__________________
"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge Charles Bevan Vero Beach, Fl |
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11-Oct-2003
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#7 |
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bonsaiTALK Expert
Join Date: Apr-2003
Posts: 184
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Dear Attila, thank you for your comments. You are right of course in pointing out that this olive is by no means styled to look like an olive. I do quite a bit of collecting of olives and although I have seen many interesting shapes, I have never seen anything which resembles the above. However, what I have wondered about (and in some respects it was the motivation for the styling of this tree) was why one could not make a literati with a trunk of some substance. In some respects literati
are idealized trees whose beauty lies in their form and shape. They generally are not styled to replicate what one sees in nature but more as an artistic exercise. Generally they have rather slender trunks unlike what I have attempted. Whether or not I have succeeded is most likely a moot point. Treenut , the last photo is an image of the previous photo in which I have added foilage mass with some computer software. Charles, thank you for your comment . Hank Last edited by Hank Miller : 11-Oct-2003 at 08:27 AM. |
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11-Oct-2003
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#8 |
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Attila Soos
Join Date: Jan-2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Country: USA
Posts: 1,946
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Hi Hank,
thanks for your gratious response. I agree with you that bonsai is an artistic exercise. There is no rule saying that the tree has to look like its natural counterpart. One of my favourite pastimes is to look at chinese and japanese paintings. Most of the trees are literati, not very natural looking, but very poetic. May be it's my love of nature that's overreacting. I admire the individual characteristics of each species. Somehow it doesn't come across as "honest", or "convincing" when I see a form that's totally opposite to the one seen in nature. I have no problem modifying it or pushing the limits of imagination, but I believe that the essence, or the soul of the tree should be preserved. It's just my personal taste. Your point is nevertheless valid. Best regards, Attila |
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11-Oct-2003
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#9 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
 
Join Date: Feb-2002
Location: Israel Ganei-Tikva
Country: ISRAEL
Posts: 736
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Hi Hank,
Pleas forgive me for my harsh words. I am living among very old Olive tress, and have few bonsai Olives. My English is very poor, but Attila expressed beautifully my opinion and feelings, I agree with almost every of his words. You cannot make from an Olive tree a Bald Cypress not a Sequoia not even a Pine tree, I almost feels ashamed for this ridicules Olive. BTW, the only formal upright olives in nature are very young olive trees.
__________________
Shalom (Peace), Moshe. Colors are an optic illusion of light – As viewers for the bonsai creation. M.S.C. Last edited by carmi : 17-Oct-2003 at 05:18 AM. |
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11-Oct-2003
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#10 |
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Attila Soos
Join Date: Jan-2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Country: USA
Posts: 1,946
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Carmi brings up a good point.
Often we think of different species only as "material", or just a medium or our creative urge. We forget that certain trees have a very strong cultural significance in various parts of the world. They are allmost sacred, if you will. Examples are the oak trees of the British isles, the olive tree in Israel and other Middle-Eastern countries, the beech tree in Hungary, the western cedar on the west coast of North America (totem poles). I think we need to be aware of that. This idea ties into preserving the spirit of the tree. Attila |
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