Looks like my latest adventure

[dick benbow]

Will involve, a nursery blue Atlas cedar, Ryan neil, and a half day session.

Monday morning 5 of us from the local club will be meeting at Bonsai NW to bring our subjects to be improved by one of the up and coming teachers.

I'll bring my camera to document the transistion and throw in a few comments as to what I learned along the way.

An afternoon session will also be held prior to ryan's appearance as speaker for the club meeting that same evening.

Ryan's residence is about 2 1/2 hours south in oregon from our seattle, washington region.

We've been very lucky to have him available.

 

[Vance Wood]

Look forward to seeing your tree and adventures.

 

[Lancaster]

I too, look forward to seeing your tree and hearing about your experience.

Please take before, during and after pics, if you can.

Having Ryan at arms length is truely a blessing for sure......

 

[Brian Underwood]

Exciting! Can't wait to see how it goes. Here's what he did with mine in about an hour; http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?9307-Tall-Atlas-Cedar-Revisited-With-Ryan-Neil

 

[dick benbow]

It has been my privledge in life to have had time with some pretty spectacular bonsai artists.
For some reason, When Ryan explains things I get it easier then with the others. I learned so much today. Probably the biggest item was answering the question, What is the direction of the flow of the tree.
I had picked a pretty safe front when he came to my station. it ended up being the back of the tree! LOL
Along the way I learned some raffia tricks as well as wiring. What I wish I could learn is his quick assesment of a tree.
I was over the moon with the way the tree ended up. he said put it in a round pot with reddish hue but not until the following year.
Hopefully you can see enough of the tree without background to get a sense of what it was
to begin with and how it ended up.
I'm writing this after the session and just before heading way back into seattle for the meeting. The pictureloading process is not co-operating. First coupla shots missing no problem but last critical one it won't load either. so we'll try tomorrow and if it doesn't load then merry christmas
All of the other 4 candidates were VERY happy with their results which included sub alpine fir, pondersosa pine, lodgepole pine and Rocky mountain juniper.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I call foul! What a tease...
looking forward to those photos, Dick! Also looking forward to working with him next year.

 

[bonsai barry]

Sounds like a great experience. Looking forward to the photos.

 

[dick benbow]

I'll try again this a.m. and if no luck will shoot the final product here at home and post later when the sun rises. I'm up early because after the meeting where ryan was speaker with a Rocky Mtn Juniper, we went for coffee afterwards and that was not smart for someone to get home and not be able to get to sleep.LOL

He's such a great speaker. So enthusiastic. He had a 2 1/2 hr drive home last night after leaving at 5 am to get from Oregon to seattle for the classes today. long day.....

well pics just cliqued perfectly this am so here goes. If the pic is not all that clear I can take here at home and post later. The other folks were those who were in the same class. Some took their trees to the meeting to show those who did not take a session how well their trees looked.

 

[dick benbow]

I must apologize to friend Jason who's ponderosa pine was being worked on my ryan and i did not get jason in the photo...I'm bad!

 

[dick benbow]

This was at break time last night as some of the audience wanted to ask more questions
then head for the cookies and beverages.

I think what was helpful was to listen during the next session as he tediously wired and listened to questions about RMJ. His answers were so helpful.

hopefully all will have an opportunity to take advantage of his knowledge. there is no doubt he was priviledged to work with kimura, but you have to give him credit for he is a very gifted person in his own right.

 

[Poink88]

I think what was helpful was to listen during the next session as he tediously wired and listened to questions about RMJ. His answers were so helpful.

I asked Kathy Shaner about the best way to learn and get as much bang for the buck way and she told me that though bringing your own tree in a workshop is great...she believes a better way is to be a silent observer. You get to hear everything the "guest" is teaching/talking about unlike the participants who are busy working on their own tree and missing on other good stuff.

 

[dick benbow]

I can see her point. At our club, such an appearance is just one buck but you can't ask questions or get involved, just listen. Stil,l would agree it would be worth it.

 

[Brian Underwood]

Observing is fine and dandy, but doing is where you will really increase your skill. I found the best way for me to learn the most was to apprentice. You get to work on many different trees in a short amount of time.
Dick, I have the same problem with most of my trees; my chosen front becomes the artists chosen back. This has lessened to some degree since I have started taking workshops with Ryan. Good stuff! Keep it up!

 

[fore]

Dick, I also found Ryan to easily distill complex information into easy to understand info. Very broad fund of knowledge, and has inherent skills. Love the trees, so Thanks for posting and making me envious! )

 

[dick benbow]

here's a better look at the tree..... I agree that hands on is good....I volunteer as much as i can without being a pest at Bonsai NW and at The Weyerhaeuser Collection. In fact I'll be at Weyerhaeuser wednesday. Nothing glamourous...removing unwanted
moss on tree trunks etc....