Breaking the rules - which rules?

[cascade]

Deadwood going in two directions - clunky - unrefined. So what..?







To me the only thing of merit is, it needs a new pot. Broke the rules first, then the corner of the pot..

Best,
Dorothy

 

[John Ruger]

It looks natural and more importantly it looks interesting.

 

[Si Nguyen]

That's a super little shohin! Is all that deadwood original? I have never seen a nana with such ancient deadwood!

 

[Neli]

Thanks Dorothy!
Which rules???? I have never seen so many rules broken like in Japan. I dont think rules matter to them. But they dont fail to mention them. They look at aesthetics...and harmony.
One of the rules that is broken there every day, is that the apex, (continuation of the trunk) is used as first lowest branch.
Junipers....all the time. Bar branches in conifers...all the time...crossing branches...also.
And they still get fantastic looking bonsai.

 

[ABCarve]

Dorothy.....I must say...I very much like your style!! You have a very healthy irreverence and it shows. Keep it coming.

 

[Anthony]

Neli,

a most excellent observation!!! -

NELI MOST WISELY TYPED [ on the Japanese Bonsai folk ]

------------" They look at aesthetics...and harmony."

In Fine Art,Poetry, Prose, Sculpture, Music, when you have something to say, it will happen naturally, in almost every effort you make. Unconsciously, Intuitively.

Good Morning
Anthony

 

[M. Frary]

Breaking rules?
A great man once said( I think it was a great man. It could also have been someone else.) Win if you can,lose if you must but always cheat.

Mike Frary

 

[MACH5]

Nice work Dorothy! One thing I love about Junipers is that there are NO rules. As long as your final image maintains a harmonious relationship within all its elements... who cares! But therein lies the key to success.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I'm not sure I like the composition

 

[cascade]

That's a super little shohin! Is all that deadwood original? I have never seen a nana with such ancient deadwood!

Not all original. I purposely added the clunk. I always planned to carve it down to only the lower third. However, I like the controversy. Also, looking at the tree right now, I cannot even tell how I did it. There is no way to see it. Funny

Best,
Dorothy

 

[cascade]

I'm not sure I like the composition

At least you are unsure..

Best,
Dorothy

 

[amcoffeegirl]

The reason I say this is because my eye is first drawn upward then down to the right. It took me a moment to see the actual tree. I might feel different about it if i saw it on a plain background.

 

[A Random User]

Dorthy let me say that I am a fan of your work.
I also am a big fan of breaking traditional "text-book"
Rules if I feel that it would make a better tree...
But...
The style of this tree does not work for me, sorry.
The deadwood I don't think is the issue. What doesn't
Work for me is the foilage pad. It feels disjointed from
The rest of the design, and doesn't interact with the
deadwood... personally, I think if it was brought in
Tighter to the trunk it would make a much stronger
Design...

 

[PiñonJ]

I don't see the foliage pads as a problem, nor the deadwood going in two directions. However, the composition is almost too symmetrical. The eye is drawn in three directions at once - there is no natural flow.

The work on the pads looks excellent.

 

[A Random User]

I don't see the foliage pads as a problem, nor the deadwood going in two directions. However, the composition is almost too symmetrical. The eye is drawn in three directions at once - there is no natural flow.

Yep... the eye is drawn in 3 different directions, because
The tree goes in three different directions...

 

[coh]

The reason I say this is because my eye is first drawn upward then down to the right. It took me a moment to see the actual tree. I might feel different about it if i saw it on a plain background.

I agree, the background is confusing. Can you provide a photos with a plain background?

Chris

 

[cascade]

..What doesn't
Work for me is the foilage pad. It feels disjointed from
The rest of the design, and doesn't interact with the
deadwood... personally, I think if it was brought in
Tighter to the trunk it would make a much stronger
Design...

I agree on the distant foliage. However, in this case the live vein is very delicate and I could not bring it closer.

Best,
Dorothy

 

[cascade]

Here is a plain background:



This would be a compromise:





Thoughts?

Best,
Dorothy

 

[october]

Here is a plain background:

View attachment 43167

This would be a compromise:

View attachment 43169

Thoughts?

Best,
Dorothy

Hi Dorothy. Since you cannot bring it closer due to the delicateness of the live vein. How about just turning/rotating the tree towards the viewer and then rewiring. This would hide the long section of the branch and create a tighter image.

Rob

 

[cascade]

Hi Dorothy. Since you cannot bring it closer due to the delicateness of the live vein. How about just turning/rotating the tree towards the viewer and then rewiring. This would hide the long section of the branch and create a tighter image.

Rob

Rob, good point. However, it's hard to see in the photograph, the tree is already half between the front and back. Turning it further clockwise would place the foliage way in the back. Turning it the other way would lose the view on the deadwood.

Best,
Dorothy