My first two Japanese black pines.

[thumblessprimate]

I was hesitant to post these pines as I know there are Bonsai masters (IMO equivalent to Jedi Masters!) here. But I'll go a head and post anyways figuring I could only learn more from mistakes that are pointed out in anything I do. Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings to point out what I might have done wrong or what I could do to improve. I know I could do better with the wiring, but I got lazy.

These two are my first JWP. They were 1 gal nursery plants I got in January. I originally wanted to shape them for part of my front yard landscape. But they just might end up becoming bonsai.

Still, these are young trees that I'm practicing little by little what I've read on bonsai4me, here, and other great resources I've read. Also, they are trees that I experiment on to familiarize myself with the trees growth and responses to what I do to them.

First two images are of pine1, the other three are of pine2. I left some lower branches on the bottom of the trunks to help with thickening the trunk. I wired and bent them because I may want to air layer them and make more trees for fun.

 

[QuintinBonsai]

I'm no where near being an expert on pines, but from what I learned so far, planting trees in the ground is the best way to help thicken their trunks. And I see that is what you've done so far with your pines. They have potential, but they are a long ways off from being workable. They've got some nice twisting movements going on in the trunks. My best guess would be to have patience with them, fertilize them when needed, and have more patience.