Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
Got this Old Gold juniper a couple of years ago and decided to wire it up on fathers day for myself. I'm trying to decide what is my best front? Suggestions?
Old Gold progression.
- Thread starter Bonsaidoorguy
- Start date
Got this Old Gold juniper a couple of years ago and decided to wire it up on fathers day for myself. I'm trying to decide what is my best front? Suggestions?
Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
I guess I'll bump my thread. I'm serious, I'd like a little input please... It's got pretty nice foliage. Just wanted opinions on a front and any criticism you want. Thanks.
theguywithcrocs
Seedling
Obviously, this is just my personal preference, but I'm thinking either pic 1 or pic 4. 4 showcases the jin, and with 1 I just like the movement.
Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
Thanks, I appreciate the input.
Ruddigger
Omono
Have you considered lifting one of those branches to make a taller more slender tree? It kind of looks like the letter T right now.
I tend to agree with the above suggestion about raising a branch. I might select picture 3 to show the shari and jin on lower right and then swing that front branch over to the left and upwards so it exits on the left side of the trunk without crossing it.
JackHammer
Chumono
So convention would say-
First branch 1/3rd up the tree on the outside of a bend.
The second branch would be 1/3rd of the remainder on the other side.
Third branch would be a back branch.
I would be guided by convention. It seems like you have some good things to pick from but you also need to address those things that are in conflict. Maybe that is where you are struggling.
It seems like picture 1 mostly follows convention but there is a low branch pointing at the viewer. The back of this, picture 4 would inversely, also prodominantley follow convention.
I would pick a strong 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Then give it a cool hair-do.
First branch 1/3rd up the tree on the outside of a bend.
The second branch would be 1/3rd of the remainder on the other side.
Third branch would be a back branch.
I would be guided by convention. It seems like you have some good things to pick from but you also need to address those things that are in conflict. Maybe that is where you are struggling.
It seems like picture 1 mostly follows convention but there is a low branch pointing at the viewer. The back of this, picture 4 would inversely, also prodominantley follow convention.
I would pick a strong 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Then give it a cool hair-do.
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
Of the most common styles, where are you trying to take this tree? That would influence your decision on the front.
JackHammer
Chumono
De-railing the conversation here... what are the least common bonsai styles?
Ruddigger
Omono
The one I see the least is the raft style.
Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
That was one of my concerns.
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
I should have been a bit more defined. I was being specific to junipers. While they fit pretty much every style, I have not seen many clump styles similar to a clump you would see common with chojubai.
Ruddigger
Omono
You’re right about that. The only one I can think of offhand is Ryan Neil’s blue rug clump. Not that the OP could do that with his.
JackHammer
Chumono
I was just curious, not trying to point fingers.
Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
Good question, I think I'm looking for something informal upright like. I'm having a hard time with this one. I'm not afraid to cut.
Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
So I listened to some suggestions and decided to increase the height by bringing one of those top branches up and hopefully reducing the t-bar affect. 
Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
Woke up early so I wired this guy. Trying to define the pads a little. Do you think the four stacked are distracting? I like them but they create really sharp angles.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I think this is a good start and I would not remove any more at this time. Give it a year or two to recover now.
Bonsaidoorguy
Chumono
I kept looking at it and I just didn't like a couple of branches that were on the left. So I removed them and I think it looks a little less busy.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Stop messing with it. It needs all the foliage it has to recover now, not to mention get itself prepared for winter. Juniper rely on their foliage for that...
Bonsai is done in stages over many years, not over a few weeks
LEAVE IT ALONE
