Critique and Style advice wanted for JBP

dirk hoorelbeke said:

Yes, its an informal upright, yes it is quite angular, yes you can bend the branches down, or compact the design by bending the bends a bit more. There is a post about that on the blog of Peter Tea. But this is not a thing you are likely to do when you are relatively new. I think this is a nice tree.

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MACH5 said:

Jrs1672, I agree that your tree, although very nice, is too textbook. I did a sketch of a possible way to approach it. The sketch shows planting angle rotated to the left with the top third cut off and made shorter.

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MACH5 said:

Jrs1672, I agree that your tree, although very nice, is too textbook. I did a sketch of a possible way to approach it. The sketch shows planting angle rotated to the left with the top third cut off and made shorter.

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Adair M said:

Here are a couple things to think about:

The trunk is relatively thin, but tall. It's a relatively old tree based on the bark. The branching is relatively sparce, by that I mean there's not a lot of them coming off the trunk. They are on the outside of the curves, which is good.

Curves, isn't really accurate here, more like corners!

So, there are things you can do to "soften" the corners, or, if you like that look, enhance them. One thing I notice is it appears the apex moves back, away from the viewer. It should be moving towards the viewer.

The thin trunk: generally speaking, thin trunked trees look best with short branches, with foliage close to the trunk. Short fatty trunks look best with a wider canopy. Your tree is approaching the "wider" canopy.

Next, you need to decide if you want to keep the trunk how it is, or change it, and how. To fatten it up will require putting it in a grow box, or the ground, and letting a sacrifice grow. Will take several years. In Louisiana, it shouldn't take but three or four years to make a dramatic change.

Another approach might be to change the potting angle a bit, and pull the branches down to create more of a "pejing" look.

Let us know what look you want, and I can give more specific advice.

Should be a fun project!

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Dav4 said:

I like this image. I'd suggest that you post pictures from all sides, too, as there may be another front to work with.

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Jrs1672 said:

Hi All,
I am relatively new to the forum and just diving back into bonsai after a 10 year hiatus. I didn't want to start completely fresh again so I dove in head first and bought this Japanese Black Pine. Now that I have it, and have had a chance to really look at it, it seems too textbook informal upright. Can anyone offer suggestions on improving this tree and giving it a bit more character?
I've been considering lowering the branches to a sharper angle to match how angular the trunk is. What are your thoughts?
J

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Adair M said:

Ground growing and letting sacrifice branches grow will soften the sharp angles a little bit. It's going to be tough, though, because the sections of trunk between each branch appears to be really straight.

The current styling highlights the sharp angles because the branches are level with the ground surface. If you look at Mack's virt, he has the branches descending down at a pretty sharp angle.

That does two things: reduces the amount of "negative space" below each branch. And second, it keeps foliage close to the trunk while allowing you to have longer branches.

See how Mach had created multiple pads of foliage on each of the two drop branches? Yes, there's only two branches, but the separate pads fool the eye! The pads have the same visual effect of multiple branches! They fill the space with multiple layers of foliage. So, while there are only two branches, you eye doesn't perceive it that way! It looks fuller!

This effect can be achieved by skillful wiring and bending the branches down. Most likely guy wires will required to help get them into position. You can do this without jinning the lower bottom branch, and even without chopping the top. You can choose to do those things later if you want.

The key to success with these kinds of bends is to get the bend to happen right at the trunk/branch joint. Using rebar makes it easier. You probably will need to make a little cut in the trunk above the branch. Best done with an experienced buddy!

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Anthony said:

Jrs,

It might help to find out how long you were in Bonsai before?

Is there a club nearby with some experienced in growing / training in J.B.pines ?

Also 30" would that need a 5" trunk after all - Sifu ?

And in growing to the 5" , the angles would soften ? [ think clip and grow and how the angles become natural with time ]

If the tree type is new to Jrs, should he be fooling around with branches, and maybe just learning about health ?
Good Day
Anthony

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