Shinji Suzuki Workshop RM Juniper

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Two weeks ago, I participated in a workshop involving Rocky Mountain Junipers with Shinji Suzuki.

For what it's worth, the cost of the workshop was less than that of comparable trees on Andy Smith's website, before shipping. (He supplied these trees.)

Thus, so far as I was concerned, Suzuki's guidance was FREE!!

Here is the tree before any work was done.

Suzuki had studied all of the workshop trees the night before, and proclaimed that this tree "give him headache". Now that I am a beginner in bonsai (as opposed to a rank beginner), that doesn't frighten me. Instead, it tells me there is an opportunity for something extrordinary.

Attached Images

juniper before s.jpg (46.8 KB, 245 views)

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Here is the tree at the end of the workshop (with much work to be done, as we ran out of time).

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juniper final s.jpg (59.3 KB, 242 views)

Bart Thomas(deceased)

The next week, I took it to an advanced carving workshop at Chase Rosade's, where we cleaned up the jins. I do not plan to do more work on the shari until spring, as there were some branches removed, and I want to let their lifelines die first.

Sorry about the laths on the bucket in the background. Hope they don't confuse your view of the jin.

I am bothered by the thick branch on the right (marked with arrow). Suzuki said to keep it, but it bothered Chase also.

Any opinions?

Thanks.

Attached Images

juniper after carving sm.jpg (50.3 KB, 240 views)

dbz12fan

You are lucky to take a workshop with him. Im envious. I'd keep that branch personally.

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"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

Jay

Bart, nice material!!!

Question, what is your thought about the jin low down coming right out at ya in the last post. Is that approx the front view?

Jay

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

The hook to the left keeps it from poking you in the eye. Suzuki wanted to keep it, as a testament to the hard life this tree has had.

He is very much into the natural feel of the trees.

His first two tests are:

Is the tree old or young (looking)?

Is the tree fat or thin?

You make your decision on each, and then stay consistent within the design of the tree.

While, as I mentioned in another thread, I was initially disappointed not to get a "curvy" tree, I came to love the taper of this tree and its power.

dbz12fan

Now this will become a part of naturalistice vs. cookie cutter. I would go with the way you want.

__________________
"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

bnsaijim

Bart,

This tree has many more moons before it is a refined bonsai...
Nothing has to be done today, after the deadwood weathers you may see a new image. The one that Shinji had in his mind...

You can leave that live branch on the right to help the tree's recovery. The tree might just grow into all this that seems "bothersome" right now.

I always weigh in someoene's advice with this in mind. Does this person have "the vision", what this tree is going to look like in 5, 10, 15 years, or is their suggestion based on the current stripped down image?

When you cut something off a juniper, especially the larger branches and jins we're talking about here, you'll be left with a hole. Junipers will never really callous over. Typically you'll end up with a dead sap path, i.e., shari, there and a bit of jin might just be the eyestopper, the bit of character needed. But dang, I cut it down like it was an elm...

I see the "debate" coming also...

You could "cookie cutter" the tree- turn it into something that will please and amaze your friends or at least the local club members...

Or you can take the precarious path, which will require more from you intellectually and artistically, and develop your own image. I'd suggest hunting down the posts that have Herr Pall's Alp pictures and any other "nature" pictures for inspiration...

Sincerely,

Jim Stone
TX

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Good advice. I said it "bothered" me, Not that it was coming off anytime soon.

I'll bet that it bothered Shiji also, but he had the vision to see what it could do for the future of the tree.

Thanks.