Are There People Here Consciously Creating "Naturalistic" Bonsai or Penjing?

michaelj · May 7, 2017

Vance Wood said:
You ought to go out West through the Sierra Mountians and look at the Western White Pines and Sugar Pines if you can find any. These trees produce green helmets.

I've been there a great many times. Perhaps there are a few, but the green helmet look is not common for those trees in nature.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Sug...nN7TAhUp4IMKHbmHBAEQ_AUIBigB&biw=1920&bih=921

https://www.google.com/search?q=Wes...iw=1920&bih=921#tbm=isch&q=Western+White+Pine

Even in the junipers, the natural look is not the helmet, but a long flowing carpet with a bulge at the trunk.

markyscott said:
There are all sorts of forms to Japanese black pine in nature.

That is a tree that has been shaped by people as much as it has been by nature.

markyscott · May 7, 2017

michaelj said:
...That is a tree that has been shaped by people as much as it has been by nature.

Certainly people have lifted the lower branches. Unclear to me what the people/nature ratio is. I know you have a strong preference in form and it's motivated by what you see in the Sierra's - I respect that. I've spent my share of time there as well and your observations are spot on. But if you're saying that there are no pines or junipers that naturally form a broad, full, dome-shaped canopy except under the influence of man I respectfully disagree. Japanese Black Pine do as well, under the right conditions.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ita...pN7TAhUnrVQKHcDbB1YQ_AUICigC&biw=1024&bih=649

michaelj · May 7, 2017

I'm saying that the dome shape is not common, not that it is never seen in nature.

wireme · May 7, 2017

I'm shooting for different styles depending on the material and what I decide is the best (?) use of it. Some trees are entirely inspired by other bonsai, some by nature and many in between.
This guy I'm definitely going for naturalistic. Just came out of the mulch bed, was fully purple just a week ago and greening up now. Snow has re-arranged it a bit and spring cleanup is needed but here she is as of right now. I've got a few moves in mind to make it a little more naturalistic or better yet to be made.

my nellie · May 7, 2017

Nice movement and smooth tapering! Very beautiful tree @wireme !
The shari is natural, I suppose?

wireme · May 7, 2017

my nellie said:
Nice movement and smooth tapering! Very beautiful tree @wireme !
The shari is natural, I suppose?

Thanks.
Yes it is a natural Shari. I haven't done a whole lot to the tree, it started with a million tiny rust infected branches hiding the trunk. I've slowly been thinning them down to keepers and have styled it once a couple years ago.

Tycoss · May 7, 2017

wireme said:
Thanks.
Yes it is a natural Shari. I haven't done a whole lot to the tree, it started with a million tiny rust infected branches hiding the trunk. I've slowly been thinning them down to keepers and have styled it once a couple years ago.

I'm amazed at the number of wonderfully natural "Western Canadian" looking trees you have discovered/created.

grouper52 · May 7, 2017

G

wireme said:
I'm shooting for different styles depending on the material and what I decide is the best (?) use of it. Some trees are entirely inspired by other bonsai, some by nature and many in between.
This guy I'm definitely going for naturalistic. Just came out of the mulch bed, was fully purple just a week ago and greening up now. Snow has re-arranged it a bit and spring cleanup is needed but here she is as of right now. I've got a few moves in mind to make it a little more naturalistic or better yet to be made. View attachment 144622

Great material, lots of potential. Keep us posted as it progresses.

Vin · May 8, 2017

I've been looking for this image since the beginning of this thread and finally found it. It's an example that has inspired me since my introduction into bonsai. I'm not sure if it qualifies as Naturalistic, Penjing or both but it is amazing to me.

Cadillactaste · May 8, 2017

Vin said:
I've been looking for this image since the beginning of this thread and finally found it. It's an example that has inspired me since my introduction into bonsai. I'm not sure if it qualifies as Naturalistic, Penjing or both but it is amazing to me.

View attachment 144817

Stunning! One I don't believe I have come across before. Thanks for sharing.

Vin · May 8, 2017

Cadillactaste said:
Stunning! One I don't believe I have come across before. Thanks for sharing.

I would love to have seen the construction and development of the piece. However, I can't even imagine what it takes to keep up with it.

Cadillactaste · May 8, 2017

Vin said:
I would love to have seen the construction and development of the piece. However, I can't even imagine what it takes to keep up with it.

I'm not one for defined pads to a degree that it is so strongly noticeable...but, this one sort of needs it with all that is going on. Very well done...the pads got my attention. On another tree...I may not have admired as much.

MichaelS · May 8, 2017

A couple of black pines where I have sort to aim for naturalistic right from the start. Both quite similar by coincidence.

keegan · Mar 15, 2019

MichaelS said:
A couple of black pines where I have sort to aim for naturalistic right from the start. Both quite similar by coincidence.
View attachment 144876

View attachment 144877

These are excellent!

grouper52 · Jul 10, 2019

Vance Wood said:
The Japanese didn't just invent the green helmet, as you call it, out of imagination it is a trait that occurs naturally on Pines and Junipers.

Vance, show me examples from nature, please! LOL!

Smoke · Jul 10, 2019

uh oh....

grouper52 · Jul 10, 2019

ghues said:
Will,
Your choice of pot and slab with your trees is stunning, love to see the "kinni" and your use of Native accents.....along with your photographic skills each shot captures each piece in just the right frame.

An old post, but it's nice to read it again now, over the years! How are you "ghues"? I hope you're well and that your trees bring you all the joy that bonsai can bring!!! Take care! Will

BobbyLane · Jul 11, 2019

Chinese elm and European hornbeam i would say are in the naturalistic style, though the hornbeam has some filling out to do yet. also a Field elm

JudyB · Jul 11, 2019

grouper52 said:
An old post, but it's nice to read it again now, over the years! How are you "ghues"? I hope you're well and that your trees bring you all the joy that bonsai can bring!!! Take care! Will

you have to do an @ to get it to send an alert, so here's for @ghues I'd like to see your larches this year and how they are coming along...

Adair M · Jul 11, 2019

grouper52 said:
Vance, show me examples from nature, please! LOL!

Ok, you asked for it!

Mic drop.

Are There People Here Consciously Creating "Naturalistic" Bonsai or Penjing?

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