Andy Rutledge has written an interesting and provocative piece on bonsai design, available to TBE subscribers and non-subscribers alike at

http://www.bonsaitodayonline.com/humaneyes.htm

I wanted to start this thread so as to hear what people thought of it. I'll post my own comments at some point, as well, but I wanted to leave things wide open at least initially.

Best regards,
OMC

I think the article reflects exactly what I've been feeling ever since I started doing bonsai. I hate to think that you should have to abide by some rules when your just trying to have some fun, but in this case I'm strictly for them if it will make something I,ve created more pleasing to the eye, especially my eye. I've always thought of bonsai as an art anyway, thus the rules that apply to this form of art. But I must confess though that I will sometimes break the rules, hoping that it doesn't matter too much.
Thomas J.

An interesting article!



I think many, if not all of the "Good design" rules listed could also be explained through sound horticultural principlles. I am not even sure that each of the listed design rules translate to any other art form, but I will try to relate some bonsai principles in art terms...

Regards,

Matt

• Pronounced trunk - Line, Line quality & Line direction
• Scalene triangle profile - Balance & Movement
• Definite silhouette - Unity, Form
• Branches at outside of curves: Emphasis
• Branches get closer together toward apex: Rhythm, Repetition, Pattern. Spatial Devices to depict depth/distance
• Tree leans toward the viewer - Dominance, proportion, scale, perspective, Point-of-view
• Uniform bark - Texture, Color, Unity
• Lack of Bar Branches - I think only horticultural principles can explain this? Other arts are rife with examples of strong horizontal lines/ bars, rectilienear, penetrating features, etc.
• Open spaces between branches interrupt regular spacing - Space, Variety, Negative
• Ramification of branches into successively finer groupings - Subordination, Dominance
• Jin & Shari - Movement, Contrast, Color, Focal point, Organic,
• Radial Roots - Stability
• Ratio of foliage to pot size- Balance, Mass Visual weight

As I grow with, and learn thru my bonsai. I have come to a point in the life of my interest where I "see" why there are principles and how when used (strike that) when UNDERSTOOD while creating, a finer result is made.
I am one to have argued til I was blue in the face, that a rigid following of "rules" would present one with a "cookie cutter" styled bonsai. Trees that look exactly the same. I wandered/strayed from the principles with the rebellious notion that not all of them or any of them for that matter, pertained to my trees. The result was a less than desireable bonsai. In the last few years, when I have applied myself to learning and understanding the principles, I have found that they deliver. They deliver a better bonsai. I am creating better bonsai, and better yet, I am at ease with what I am doing. What I look for, what I do as far as pruning, wiring and styling falls into place like a nice looking puzzle. This puzzle in turn tells a story of creation, life, and even death. Death not to the whole tree, but parts of the tree, from life of young branches thru its stages of life til its a majestic and grande natural living thing.

Andy, bravo zulu to you. A great article.

Paul

I like the fact that good art and good bonsai have a foundation in good rules of perception. If I create a fine bonsai it would be nice to know that it was not a mistake.
Having a good understanding of how we perceive the world and the rules of bonsai will always help us to make better decisions when we are working on our trees, also when we are purchasing our materials.

Excellent article, thankyou for offering it Mr. Crow

This is a great article! I have not, until reading this, taken the time to look at the rules in a serious manner. They are at least great guidelines to help you achieve what we want, a good looking bonsai. Where can I learn more about the rules, and are there rules to match styles? For example, what are the rules of a windswept tree, or a cascade?

I think this is a clearly stated article, (I've printed it for my future reference) artfully conceived and artistically presented. It is like an interestingly developed tree speaking from a tokonoma which amplifies the tree's rich and important message.

Who is this Andy Rutlege anyway? Sorry, but I've never heard of him before......but wish I had.
Robert..........in Sta.Cruz

Andy Rutledge is a fellow Texan from the Dallas area. He is an active member of those area clubs and on all the internet bonsai "scenes". I've known him a few years now.

A few years ago he started "The Bonsai Enthusiast", an online bonsai magazine, safely I think I can say the only succesful one... He confronts some interesting issues in his editorials.

He's got some good looking trees and has a special liking for Japanese Black Pine.

I think this one is particularly interesting because like Andy, I too believe that standards are important. This flies in the face of the belief that simple effort will yield good "art". It seems inarguable, yet I've found myself amidst such...

This can be written off as my opinion, however, common sense tells you that a thorough knowledge of any process, as well as practice, will yield a better product. Artistic principles, when used in the interpretation of natural imagery into bonsai forms, can't help but result in a more aesthetically pleasing image...

Jim Stone
TX

It's funny how the longer I do Bonsai the more the basics come into play. I remember 27years ago I couldn't get my hands on enough books to try and learn more about the basic priciples.

Then I tried to forget them for a while and I never succeded in doing so. Once you learn and practice them they seem to stick with you and become second nature......which is a good thing.

I still go to my books alot. I'm still inspired by
the Masters.

I have to admit though, I haven't bought many books lately.

Gee whiz, I'm glad that the article is getting some eyeballs on it and that it is cause for some to ponder a few of the points made (thanks for asking for opinions, OMC ;-). I certainly appreciate the nice comments and I hope that some will be ispired to look at other "rules" in bonsai and in art and see why they may apply.

And to clarify, I'm not suggesting that if you're a bonsai grower you have to be following a bunch of rules. In addition to being an art, bonsai is a cool hobby that doesn't have to have anything to do with art, just as there are plenty of painters who just enjoy putting paint on canvas and creating pictures of landscapes, still life, etc... What they're doing is not necessarily art, but it make them happy to create. Same with bonsai. But the full definition of bonsai is an art that uses trees to portray our perception of nature.

Doody, yes there are "rules" for cascade and windswept styles in bonsai and they have mostly to do with what is natural. However, there are artistic affectations that can help to clarify and emphasize the image as well. All kinds of books will point out or clarify what the basics of these "rules" are. Have fun in learning about them.

Thanks for the plug, Jim ;-)

Kind regards,
Andy Rutlege
b u n j i n | d e s i g n :: www.bunjindesign.com
zone 8, Texas