Virtual, Fact or Fiction?

bonsaial1

VIRTUAL; Just saying the word conjures up some secret technique known only by Steven Speilberg or George Lucas. No Star Wars technology here, just the real deal.

I find the virtual medium indespensible when it comes to designing the future look of the tree. Maybe it comes from my background in the construction trade, I love blueprints. I find that a successful virtual can be just as good as a set of finely executed blueprints. When speaking about your tree in a forum such as this, a nice virtual at the end of the post can be a real eye opener about the design talent of the artist. Let's face it, Thats what we are doing bonsai for, isn't it. Everyone talks about the art of bonsai, but when a tree is posted, the future of the tree is somehow left out. This to me is the most important part of bonsai.

My best anology for bonsai goes something like this. I used to fly remote control airplanes. When I first started out, not only did I bust up a lot of dollars worth of balsa wood, but the airplane controled me. What I mean is, I could get the airplane off the ground, it would fly, but the plane always seemed to be in a state of a controlled crash. The plane led me around the sky, I was not able to always make the plane fly where I wanted to. Landing were a bit dicey during this phase! As I had more practise I got better, I was able to do slow flyby's at 3 feet off the ground, 5 feet in front of me, straight and true. It became a joy to fly once "I was in control of the bonsai...er Plane". If you are letting the tree grow you, then you need more practise inducing growth where "you want it" not where the tree decides to grow it.

I feel the virtual gives me the control I need to direct the growth of the tree into the finished product I want. These are a couple of virtuals I have done recently. I feel they convey a finished product, and give the viewer a look into my design for the future. For me the key is having something to look at. This can be shared by others for an honest critique, thereby saving wasted years of useless work. If I feel that another person has created something better from my stock, it's a simple matter to put them side by side for review, and make decisions. The views represent present and future views. A hornbeam, and a mountain maple.

Attached Images

before and afters.jpg (30.7 KB, 136 views)

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bonsaial1

The next virtual is of a California Juniper that I plan to start carving next season. Thanks to OMC, for his constant stance for improvement. Took four tries, but I am happy with this design.

Attached Images

caljuniper banda.jpg (18.7 KB, 133 views)

bonsaial1

I dredged this thread up from a few months ago. It didn't get much air time back then but maybe we can breath new life into it. Someone had mentioned we need a virtual thread on the "feedback" thread going on about animated thingys. There have been some great tutorials in the contest section. everyone can use this thread to post some of your efforts here for us to critique. The first couple that I posted are definatly on their way to becoming like the virtuals I did. The Cal. juniper is a long term project like OMC said in the feedback post. This is the tree he was talking about.

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