Crazy Collected Thuja

mattspinniken · Sep 14, 2016

I wanted to start a thread on a collected cedar of mine to document its progression. I really like White Cedar lately and this fat and crazy tree really suits my taste. This one is definietly not going to make a traditional bonsai. I have a sketch (my photoshop program isn't working) but I may go in a different direction. Let me know what you think of the design.

It came out with a beautiful pad of of roots so I feel really confident on it surviving.

Giga · Sep 14, 2016

What Can I say! - That's really epic and looks like you have a good plan in place. Can you get a full shot of it?

Vin · Sep 14, 2016

mattspiniken said:
I wanted to start a thread on a collected cedar of mine to document its progression. I really like White Cedar lately and this fat and crazy tree really suits my taste. This one is definietly not going to make a traditional bonsai. I have a sketch (my photoshop program isn't working) but I may go in a different direction. Let me know what you think of the design.

It came out with a beautiful pad of of roots so I feel really confident on it surviving.

Man that is crazy! Very nice trunk. I'm not sold on your vision to be honest. Maybe some more photos at different angles of the tree will help with some alternative directions.

mattspinniken · Sep 14, 2016

I'm not sold on my vision either haha... I'll post some more angles.

Wilson · Sep 14, 2016

Gotta love the white cedars! Grace us with some full photos of the tree, maybe some folks will see different possibilities. Awesome trunk! I believe @crust has good experience with these!

jcrossett · Sep 14, 2016

I really like the sketch and where you plan to take this. The dead wood makes it look like a knife of something going thou the tree

rockm · Sep 14, 2016

I think you're thinking too conventionally for such a trunk. I think the trunk may lend itself to a more horizontal approach.

Fuller shot of the entire tree would help...What's the first big branch look like all the way out?

mattspinniken · Sep 14, 2016

Here are a few more complete with a toothbrush for scale. I don't like moving collected trees otherwise I would set up a better background. I'm pretty set on the front, it just has a lot of character from the first angle I posted above. There is a large piece coming out the back that is too straight for me but who knows.

mattspinniken · Sep 14, 2016

rockm said:
What's the first big branch look like all the way out?

Unfortunately this branch has no green on it. It must have recently died because I can still see a live vein but no green.

ghues · Sep 15, 2016

Very nice material, good luck with it......visions of or trees can over time, change dramatically lol.

mattspinniken · Sep 15, 2016

Another idea tilted and on a slab utilizing the really long deadwood on the left.

just.wing.it · Sep 15, 2016

Nice find! I'm jealous.

ghues · Sep 15, 2016

mattspiniken said:
Another idea tilted and on a slab utilizing the really long deadwood on the left.

I like this one.......

mattspinniken · Jul 22, 2020

I thought I would update this thread as I worked this tree this month. Last year I broke what I thought was a crucial branch and had written the tree off until recently. I worked it and like it better now. Thoughts on my design?

Gene Deci · Jul 22, 2020

mattspiniken said:
I thought I would update this thread as I worked this tree this month. Last year I broke what I thought was a crucial branch and had written the tree off until recently. I worked it and like it better now. Thoughts on my design?

View attachment 317676

A nice tree for sure. The movement is to the left and to me the thing (root? branch?) at the bottom right is disconcerting. The problem is I almost always find a tree looks better in real life than in a picture. That makes your perspective best.

sorce · Jul 22, 2020

What does the "front" look like from that back left corner? Something to visually change that Jin from crossing the trunk.

I like it.

Looks way better than the first drawing.

Sorce

mattspinniken · Jul 22, 2020

Gene Deci said:
A nice tree for sure. The movement is to the left and to me the thing (root? branch?) at the bottom right is disconcerting. The problem is I almost always find a tree looks better in real life than in a picture. That makes your perspective best.

Hi Gene! I few things about this tree need some changes mostly what you can’t see in the picture. The back needs more carving work, I’m sort of winging it. I’ve not done much carving. The bottom right jin is pretty cool in person but I see your point for sure.

mattspinniken · Jul 22, 2020

sorce said:
What does the "front" look like from that back left corner? Something to visually change that Jin from crossing the trunk.

I like it.

Looks way better than the first drawing.

Sorce

Thanks! The front on that side you could not see any live veins and has some odd angles, this tree really is odd in a lot of ways. I think that is why I like. This is one of those trees that really would turn out completely different with each artist.

I know the lower Jin breaks rules but for me it really adds a lot of odd character and makes the tree feel more “alive” in a way.

River's Edge · Jul 22, 2020

mattspiniken said:
I thought I would update this thread as I worked this tree this month. Last year I broke what I thought was a crucial branch and had written the tree off until recently. I worked it and like it better now. Thoughts on my design?

View attachment 317676

I like the direction you are moving and what has been accomplished so far.
Two thoughts!
The thicker portion of the jin on the lower right could be reduced somewhat, but needs to be retained to ground the base and widen the perspective!
The crossing portion could be reduced and create a bit of downward movement just near the shari beginning vertically.
That would leave deadwood complementing the flow and retaining a broader base possibly! just two thoughts.

sorce · Jul 22, 2020

mattspiniken said:
could not see any live veins

That's what I was thinking.

I think you nailed it then, I would guess, as long as the pot doesn't accentuate that Jin, it will be fine.

Sorce

Crazy Collected Thuja

Omono

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Masterpiece

Imperial Masterpiece

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Chumono

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Masterpiece

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