Some More Freshly Potted Work

Treebeard

<shrug>

each to his own... It works better for me tipped level. That may show me up as a style retard.. if so - so be it

It's not perfect, no, it could move to the right in the pot maybe, but it is only a training pot (it is , isn't it whidn).

Regards,

TB

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salix

Ok, leaving aside all the questions of why the thing looks unbalanced or what visual balance is, I think that the core of the problem lies in the style chosen for this tree, and I see this 'error' made all the time when folks make an attempt at a windswept style.

In order to work in the windswept style, which uses imbalance to create the illusion that the tree was formed by high winds, the tree has to look like the wind has been blowing on it, and this illusion has to be believable for the species of tree that you use. Maybe I'm just too hardcore about this style, but IMO, to be convincing, everything really has to be moving in the same direction, and must convincingly evoke movement. Once some aspect of this illusion breaks down, the rest of the design tends to crumble away, leaving only the sense of imbalance.

whidn

Lantana
wow even with all this critisizm my little lantana is sitting a little higher now..........
Mainly because bent up that peice of wire that was poking out of the bottom. It is the wire that I used to ancor the tree in the pot that was making it off balance and look like it was tiping over.

About the out of balance thing..
Any amount of "common sense" will tell you that a 1/2 oz tree will not tip over a 3 oz pot with 2 oz of soil in it.
but thats just my un artistic eye speaking.
This is not just a training pot, Its what I can afford.

I do not and do not wish to posess a "cookie cutter bonsai".
I agree with Treebeard when he said that if I like it its cool, and I also want to thank him for taking up for me.

Juniper
this is indeed the same juniper that I posted earlier, Dont know when but I know I posted it.
I like it and will not be changing it much, I intend to thin out the foalige on the left and bring down the foilage on the right. Thats about it for the future of this tree.

BTW I have read John Nakas book and it is really great, I wish I could own it. So, if anyone wants me to cookie cut all my trees just send me over those 2 books that was menchioned earlier.

Also BTW I, nor 99% of the people on this forum never went to law school so its hard to keep track of you higher educated people who act like they are posting on one of those snobbish forums that I've read about.

nuff said

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If you skim when you read
Your knowledge will be skimpy

A lways
S eek
K nowledge

God, give me the wisdom to use it

Jose_Alberto

Whidn

I know the guys were unpolite when describing your trees, but as Treebeard said, if you like them they are fine...

But, don't get angry... we all have received some stuff like that... Sometimes what guys say is not easy to take, but in a while you realize it was correct... I really believe the explanation about the bowling ball was correct, because the punctual forces are not the ones that would turn that down, but the torque, and the torque depends on the weight (force) and distance... (Just highschool physics), so reducing the distance would make it more stable... anyway as treebeard said, it's a trainning pot, so... it looks much better than my boxes...

Obviously, there are ways to say it... (I don't know if this post is a way to say a thing or to throw some smoke )

I don't intend to justify what they wrote, and I'm not in law school

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salix

My comments were intended to further MY OWN understanding of balance in bonsai, and I feel like I learned a lot about the topic from the discussion. That's the way I learn: read, process, regurgitate.

I am genuinely curious to know: what was your purpose in posting the pictures of your trees?

I did not include any personal attacks in my posts, nor do I feel I was "rude."


responses?

Jose_Alberto

well, I was going to regret about this message, so I had to edit it...

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Jose Alberto Franco
Guatemala
Central America
http://www.doschivos.com

Carl_Bergstrom

No kidding, Salix! Your comments were very respectful.

Three comments in response to whidn.

First, Reiner Goebel's definition of a Cookie Cutter tree:

Cookie Cutter Tree: One that the person using the phrase couldn't manage to create himself.

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Second, Clay obviously put a lot of time and effort into providing with free, excellent, customized-to-your-particular tree advice. Now I can't speak for him, but I know if I did that and you gave me some nasty (and horribly misinformed!!) reply about cookie cutter bonsai, I sure wouldn't waste my time trying to help you out in the future.


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Third, a comment on language. This a written forum, by and large, with the added bonus of the abilities to post pictures. As a consequence, people have to use written language.




You talkin' to me?

This one needs some explanation, because I've got no idea what the hell you're talking about here. You don't like the way I use the English language? Last time I checked, this forum is a place for discussion at all levels. I know Salix got my point, because Salix's response rephrased my words even better, and then expanded upon the points I was trying to make. And in turn, I learned something from that response. If you didn't, don't read it. Hit the damn "ignore" button if you don't like people talking in full sentences. Whatever. When someone is bragging about advanced degrees as justification for why they are right, I can see being ticked off. But for the way people use the language? That kind of petty anti-intellectualism doesn't cast you in a good light!!!

- Old Mister Crow

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whidn

bla bla bla

I am not ticked off at anyone, and probaly not capable of being ticked off at something like this. Its just not in my nature.
I just think that if your gonna throw stones dont move into a glass house.

I do appreciate any advice, suggestions, and constructive critisizm I can get here.

About the cookie cutter, I havent read the book, Nor did I know it was in a book. the term cookie cutter anything means to me that its the same thing over and over.

If I use the term "open wide", what would you think? Its on the back of a Triscuit box, but you didnt know that did you?

I like all my trees and do wish them to be better some day, thats why I post here.

I would just like to see the walmart specials and bowling ball trees that anyone else made in their 8th month of bonsai with nothing but the internet for a teacher.

And finally I dont think that my comments were nasty or horrable. If anyone thinks that they are, they surley need to stay away from those glass houses.

Just for OMC Thanks Geezerman and to everyone that has ever helped me before. and I'm sorry

__________________
Beginner From U.S.A.

If you skim when you read
Your knowledge will be skimpy

A lways
S eek
K nowledge

God, give me the wisdom to use it

salix

OK, I was thinking about it, and maybe a bad virt (the only kind I know how to make) could illustrate something about what I was trying to say. I'll cut out the thousand words and see if I can do it with a picture. Just look at this, compare it to your original, and think about balance. Sorry about the poor image quality.

Attached Images

lantanavirt.jpg (5.7 KB, 79 views)