In Search of a Mentor

bonsai411

I am considering taking a few months off to concentrate primarily on bonsai. Societies seem to provide a great community of people, but is hard to address the entire group in sucha short period of time.

I was entertaining the idea of working primarily with a mentor (full or part time). Became interested in the idea of shadowing one expert designer to have full 1-on-1 training.

I am in the South Florida area, is anyone or does anyone know of a expert bonsai artist who would be interested in taking on an apprentice?

Mike

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Repotter

In the south Florida area you might try asking Jim Smith at Durastone in Vero Beach. I am not sure if he teaches but he may know of who does.

Good luck

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Don't forget that Jim Van Landingham, aka JVL, also a very suitable mentor operates out of Jim Smith's nursery, if Jim Smith is unable to help you.

DuraStone info from the Wiki

If that doesn't work out, check the BSF web site for other possibilities that may be closer to you.

dbz12fan

First, I must ask whether you are involved in a club or not. If you are, you probably know your club's most knowledgeable members by now. Typically, there will be one or two that own a bonsai nursery. Those are the ones that you may want to consider asking this question. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to get on their good side first .

__________________
"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

rockm

Asking professional bonsaiists to teach you for no compensation is a little presumptive on your part and could be a turn off for them. If you ask a professional bonsaiist to be your "mentor" you are asking him/her for something they get paid to do. It's their currency and shouldn't be assumed to be "free" because you're hungry for knowledge. If you find one that will teach for free, terrific, but don't assume you're going to get something for nothing.

You can learn alot by just hanging around the nursery doing the grunt work--weeding, pruning, watering, moveing stuff, helping build stuff, helping clean up, etc. This is the approach I'd use. Ask them if you could help them out for free around the nursery. Even experienced non-professional bonsaiists would probably go for this. Assisting one of your experienced club members in repotting season (right now) could teach you a ton of things you wouldn't otherwise know.

bonsai411

I wouldn't assume learning for nothing. I do appreciate all your approaches, and agree to approach owners of bonsai nurseries. I know a few, I will tease the idea with and offer to volunteer at the nursery to help with grunt work. This is a good start. Thanks!

Mike

dbz12fan

This is what I had intended to say in my post. There is a difference between taking classes and apprenticing. As an apprentice you would learn by doing general work around the nursery. If you chose to take classes, you would spend time one-on-one with the professional at a price ranging from $25 to $50 an hour, and even higher. As an apprentice, times will come when you get a chance to do fun stuff such as carving and assisting in styling valuable stock. However, most of the work would be characterized by typical work around the nursery as Rockm has said. This type of work is the best for learning the horticultural needs of bonsai. You will learn the proper amount of water, the proper way to root prune, etc.

__________________
"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

Carl_Bergstrom

My understanding is that the great Bates (master of the scalene triangle) is back and is looking for students. You could drop him a note.

Best wishes,
Carl

Bart Thomas(deceased)

And I thought he looked like Anthony Perkins, and ran a motel!