Jbp style advice

Drezden88

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This is my first pine. I have no clue what I want to do with that top piece. Right now it looks the chair from Beetlejuice. I was thinking of bending it down almost horizontal, but then what do I do for a apex? All my other trees are broom style maples and a bunch of bald cypress.
 

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Forsoothe!

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I don't know anything about JBP styles, or anything else for that matter, but the one thing you can do with something that is a Too Tall Jones is the bend the shit out of 'em. I would bring the far end (in photo #1) in a hard right radius transitioning to higher than, and above, and matching the path of the middle branch that points to the left of the camera lens and make it a second story to that branch and path, slightly to the right, as pictured. That would make the front of the tree the left side of picture, as we view it now. If you can follow that, you're a better man than most. That would make a particularly unconventional design without a name. Maybe, インフォモール 文芸
 

Drezden88

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I don't know anything about JBP styles, or anything else for that matter, but the one thing you can do with something that is a Too Tall Jones is the bend the shit out of 'em. I would bring the far end (in photo #1) in a hard right radius transitioning to higher than, and above, and matching the path of the middle branch that points to the left of the camera lens and make it a second story to that branch and path, slightly to the right, as pictured. That would make the front of the tree the left side of picture, as we view it now. If you can follow that, you're a better man than most. That would make a particularly unconventional design without a name. Maybe, インフォモール 文芸
I think I know what you're saying. Would you chop any of those side branches on the top?
 

Forsoothe!

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Things are slow tonight, let see what magic I can do with a virt...
 

Forsoothe!

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This is a poor example, but here it is with the longest branch brought back over the top as a new top...
JBP A1 +30.JPG
 

Brian Van Fleet

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This tree is really plucked, so right now, you should just let it rest and see if it’s still alive in the spring.

It would be incongruous to have an arrow-straight trunk culminating in a weird loop at the top. A good tip is to take advice from someone who styles trees you admire, because yours will start to look like theirs over time. If you like the loop, that‘s you’re decision, but the guy started by saying he doesn’t know anything about JBP styles and ended with a “poor example”.

Here is what I would do...since it has a long straight trunk, it is best to work with that feature, and style it into something a bit taller and slender.

Not now, but next spring. Remove the too-low and too-heavy branches (1 may be too heavy too), and then wire branches 2-4 outward, 2 to the left, 3 to the right, 4 to the back, 5 to the right, 6 up, and turning the tips up slightly toward the sun. Remove the rest at the red cut line.
7EB1E2AC-50E3-4BEF-A657-FE0D575A4033.jpeg
 

sorce

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I reckon it depends on what you can sell as natural.

If you plan on using the low branch, I wouldn't cut anything until the tree grows into that bulge where it connects.

Sorce
 

Forsoothe!

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I reckon it depends on what you can sell as natural.

If you plan on using the low branch, I wouldn't cut anything until the tree grows into that bulge where it connects.

Sorce
I wouldn't cut anything until I was convinced that it couldn't be incorporated into the flow of the two major branches and/or as counter-balancing.
 

Drezden88

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This tree is really plucked, so right now, you should just let it rest and see if it’s still alive in the spring.

It would be incongruous to have an arrow-straight trunk culminating in a weird loop at the top. A good tip is to take advice from someone who styles trees you admire, because yours will start to look like theirs over time. If you like the loop, that‘s you’re decision, but the guy started by saying he doesn’t know anything about JBP styles and ended with a “poor example”.

Here is what I would do...since it has a long straight trunk, it is best to work with that feature, and style it into something a bit taller and slender.

Not now, but next spring. Remove the too-low and too-heavy branches (1 may be too heavy too), and then wire branches 2-4 outward, 2 to the left, 3 to the right, 4 to the back, 5 to the right, 6 up, and turning the tips up slightly toward the sun. Remove the rest at the red cut line.
View attachment 318776
Thanks for the vit. I was thinking of doing the cut on the top. You confirmed it was probably a good move. The top portion of the truck by branches 3 thru 6 isn't to stiff. I was gonna wait til spring to raffia and Jack it for more movement.
 

Adair M

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Thanks for the vit. I was thinking of doing the cut on the top. You confirmed it was probably a good move. The top portion of the truck by branches 3 thru 6 isn't to stiff. I was gonna wait til spring to raffia and Jack it for more movement.
Judging from the wire on this tree, I question the need for “raffia and Jack”.

Much of the wire on the tree is ineffective.

Becoming proficient at wiring takes practice. It also helps to use better wire. For conifers, copper holds much, much better. If you are going to take the time to do bonsai, leArn to do it right!

An analogy: your wire on that treeis the equivalent of someone trying to mow a lawn using a weed eater. Yes, you can get all the grass cut with a weed eater, but you will have uneven places, with some areas scalped, and others left too long. It lookS unkempt, and Parts of the lawn will grow back faster than other parts, etc.

Wiring is such an integral part of bonsai... take done lessons or at least watch some quality videos, then practice, practice, practice!
 
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