boulevard cypress -in need of opinions

I've been stumped by this tree for yet another year... I've done some limb removal over a few seasons, and kept up with pinching so have been able to get some interior budding on this (nursery stock) tree. But every time I go to "style" it, and wire it, the same old tree stares back at me.
Part of the problem is that the thickest low (primary) branch in my mind, is a bar branch with its bar branch partner that has better inner budding and shape. Although the thicker branch could be shortened, shaped, and would bud back for me, I think.
It is also difficult to see from photos what is going on here, so it may not be something that makes any sense from pictures. The base flair is nice, and the surface rootage is coming along well. This is not going to be a large tree, and it may wind up shorter, although I think the height is not terrible where it is currently.
The puny skinny branches will of course be the first to go, but I figure till I know what I'm doing with this, may as well keep them for any added growth they may give till then.

flair is 2 1/2", trunk above flair is 1 1/4" height to first thick branch 6", total height 17".

Have a go at it, anything to get me off the fence would be welcome...

Or maybe just wait another year, sigh...

Hello Judy,
I see what you mean here...How open would you be to grafting a piece of driftwood to this tree? I am not talking about a full phoenix graft where you are creating a whole new image. Just a small piece of driftwood to create a different base. While keeping the entire original base visible. Then, many new options would present themselves.

Rob

Something like this maybe... Not a dead wood look, but a more natural colored wood. Grafted to the side of the tree

Although I like your image, I've never been drawn to tanuki, even though this is not strictly tanuki... I don't think I could look at it without thinking I cheated....


So it looks like it needs more beef at the base to look like something.... then options will be more available...

Just messing around - do you think something along these lines would work? ... maybe with more thinning of the foliage..?

Yeah Daygan, it really needs thinned out, but hard to know where to start. Thanks for the virt, I'll take a look later. I may just start wiring and see where that takes me...
J

I don't know Judy, it reminds me of an old ponderosa that was in my grandpa's yard when I was a kid. So basically it looks like a tree. This is not a bad thing at all. Personally, if you could get the foliage in tighter and flatten it out into a few pads I think you would have a lovely, natural looking tree.

Yes... I thought about this tree after I read your reply Judy and I agree with milehigh. I was also thinking that since the trunk cannot be thickened, the branches need to be shortened. Here is an example that is along the lines of milehigh's tree. Good call mh7..

*blush* Well that just made my day.

Hey Clyde, you may be onto something there... It's time to pinch again, lets see what happens! I'll throw some wire, no branch cutting for now, and I'll post it up. I'm thinking to throw it in the ground for a year or so, as I think if I could get it to look more anchored at the base, (and it actually has a decent start) it would be easier to figure out. I think it wants to be a bit shorter too...

Thanks for looking at this with me mile and oct. - and daygan of course!

Judy, the top has too much foliage and the bottom branches are little. I'd thin the top out myself, and let the bottom half run to thicken them up to match the trunk. jmo