Advice on how to shape crown

[Mdpap1974]

Hi, New to bonsai (obviously). I found this dwarf alberta spruce with a great nebari on sale and decided to work on it.
I am starting to wise up, so I left many more branches than I envision in the final version. Right now I’m planning to shape the lower branches and eventually turn them into deadwood, similar to an ancient spruce.
I welcome advice and critique of any kind, but the reason for this post is that I’m stuck on what to do with the crown. I feel that the tree is too tall, so I was considering taking several inches off the top and curling some remaining branches to form the crown. Another consideration would be to Jin the apex.
I would value your advice.
Thanks and best regards,
Marios

 

[0soyoung]

Anybody can make a jin. It is the easiest 'styling thing' to do and there is little need for practice. On the other hand, forming an apex requires some skill (and if it 'never' works out, you can then make some kind of jin like often seen on old trees), so try to do that --> chop off the trunk and bend around one of those long branches to make an apex. If the branch comes straight up from behind, it will be seen as a continuation of the trunk. Alternatively, it can produce the same visual line of trunk if it comes from directly in front and arches over to the back. You'll need to do it and see for yourself, but I think from behind will work out better.

 

[Forsoothe!]

I'm thinking that there is height that seems natural here...

and it only involves a strategic chop and rotate one twig up ~110° or so...

But everything depends on that 3rd dimension that can't be seem here.

 

[Mdpap1974]

I'm thinking that there is height that seems natural here...
View attachment 315594
and it only involves a strategic chop and rotate one twig up ~110° or so...
View attachment 315598
But everything depends on that 3rd dimension that can't be seem here.

That is very helpful. Thank you very much.

 

[sorce]

Good job leaving branches. It looks well.

I think Jinning the apex is the easy way out too.
Never looks right, it's a fake finish most of the time.

Nice.

Sorce

 

[Adair M]

Anybody can make a jin. It is the easiest 'styling thing' to do and there is little need for practice. On the other hand, forming an apex requires some skill (and if it 'never' works out, you can then make some kind of jin like often seen on old trees), so try to do that --> chop off the trunk and bend around one of those long branches to make an apex. If the branch comes straight up from behind, it will be seen as a continuation of the trunk. Alternatively, it can produce the same visual line of trunk if it comes from directly in front and arches over to the back. You'll need to do it and see for yourself, but I think from behind will work out better.

0so, you’ve got it exactly backwards. It’s a front branch that’s usually turned up to make a new apex. That way the chop scar isn’t right in the front.

 

[0soyoung]

0so, you’ve got it exactly backwards. It’s a front branch that’s usually turned up to make a new apex. That way the chop scar isn’t right in the front.

Of course, if it is going to be visible and not obscured by foliage.