wireme
Masterpiece
Canadian style. 
Signature Styles
- Thread starter Tentakelaertje
- Start date
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I have a feeling that @Woodland Spirit is going to be really interested in this mambonsai discipline...
Lol!
That's the kind of scene that miniature railroad enthusiasts like to put in their layouts.
thumblessprimate1
Masterpiece
My former Japanese language teacher frequently told his students, "The Japanese don't invent, they copy and the improve." Bonsai is their "improvement" on the Chinese art as with all other things they've borrowed from other cultures.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I think now, after years of research, contemplation, and endless and often angry debate, an American Style is like Sasquatch; every one would like to believe it is there but are unable to prove it or publicly willing to acknowledge it. My problem with the issue goes back many years, more than thirty if the truth be known, where people were actually trying to demonstrate or display an American style. At the time the ASB (American Style Bonsai) had to fracture all of the accepted rules/laws of bonsai, and embark on a path of design that was only marginally attractive. The unspoken rule was that you couldn't have any rules. Some really ugly trees were being foisted on the bonsai public and justified as being an American Bonsai and as such was beyond criticism or critique by the then accepted standards. If America is going to truly present a bonsai that the rest of the world will look on and recognize as an American bonsai I hope it is not because it is ugly and soulless.
Cypress187
Masterpiece
Each tree/species (or location) looks different and style's are derived from that, Bonsai should be about making a tree look good and not about who can replicate a style the best in my opinion. But it's a good starting point ofcourse and for inspiration.
Last edited:
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Funny stuff. Not really a style, but a fad like "popbonsai" was a while ago. Mallsai + plastic figurines.
If you have facebook--
https://www.facebook.com/mambonsai/media_set?set=a.122592054491214.32215.100002212607208&type=3
milehigh_7
Mister 500,000
I am quite fond of feline style...
Cypress187
Masterpiece
Oh, i saw this website before. I think you can even send in your own cat and they ship all around the world last time i checked.I am quite fond of feline style...
milehigh_7
Mister 500,000
Yes, bonsaikitten.com was one of the funniest large-scale hoaxes that I have ever heard of. It was late 90's early 2000's and the animal rights people were apoplectic... so awesome...
GroveKeeper
Shohin
That sounds pretty American to me.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
What??? Ugly and Soulless???
thumblessprimate1
Masterpiece
Go easy on yourself, Vance. I don't think you're so bad. 
thumblessprimate1
Masterpiece
I'd like to see a Storm Trooper themed one.
GroveKeeper
Shohin
Not soulless, but certainly ugly, lawless, self righteous, stubborn, fractured unwilling to listen to criticism.
Woodland Spirit
Chumono
Kinda. A little to dollar store-ish
GroveKeeper
Shohin
There do seem to be a lot of people who view bonsai as an improvement or a refinement. I guess it's all in the eye of the beer holder as they say.
Tentakelaertje
Omono
Found finally time and energy to look at the thread in detail.
So, from what I can see on the mighty google:
Latin American Style:
Looks like what one would expect to grow on an Amazonian rainforest mountain/lower parts of the Andes.
Never been there, but Animal Planet ftw.
Mostly tropics/stuff that can grow in the mountains.
Not super manicured, looks more natural than the stereotypical Japanese Style.
Looks like some bigass jungle tree. Awesome!
Outskirts of the jungle? Where would you expect this?
Mountainside?
Japanese influences dripping through.
Does Toby Diaz count as Latino bonsai artist? Born in Puerto Rico, but livin' in Florida since '87. Excluded here, but what do you guys think? Florida artist or Latino artist?
About right on Latino bonsai? If not, why not? Also, Latino artists, please do chime in. No judge like a first hand experience.
Southern Asian Style:
Gonna nick some stuffz, as lots of good have been said already:
How does this relate to the other S-East styles? Representative?
African Style:
Does anyone know there's more African bonsai style stuff?
Only 'know' Neli from Africa, does anyone know more African bonsai artists?
I know there's a couple in South Africa, but can't think of names.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Progress has been made, beavers have been killed and I'll never sleep again. Thanks Bobby, thanks Cyrus.
So good so far, apparently African Bonsai consists of flattops, there's too much Murican 'soullessness' (gr8 word) to fit in one country, and the better you look at it, the less identical Japanese Bonsai is.
I guess Latin American bonsai is pretty much covered for now, as is Japanese, Latino and Taiwanese bonsai. @Starfox got Aussie bonsai up, and I'm now realizing the cultural differences in bonsai do not seem to be plenty, as Japan is still godlike tier and of huge influence in many bonsaikas.
That, and as @carp said, cultures influence each other easily.
Also, Muricans, would ya be so kind to do your own style? Yer like 90% in here, so someone has gotta say something about it.
It's almost Maarten bedtime now, especially since I'm feeling ill, so this will do for now. No idea when I find more time, but it won't be next century.
Thanks for engaging lads, appreciate it
So, from what I can see on the mighty google:
Latin American Style:
Looks like what one would expect to grow on an Amazonian rainforest mountain/lower parts of the Andes.
Never been there, but Animal Planet ftw.
Mostly tropics/stuff that can grow in the mountains.
Not super manicured, looks more natural than the stereotypical Japanese Style.
Looks like some bigass jungle tree. Awesome!
Outskirts of the jungle? Where would you expect this?
Mountainside?
Japanese influences dripping through.
Does Toby Diaz count as Latino bonsai artist? Born in Puerto Rico, but livin' in Florida since '87. Excluded here, but what do you guys think? Florida artist or Latino artist?
About right on Latino bonsai? If not, why not? Also, Latino artists, please do chime in. No judge like a first hand experience.
Southern Asian Style:
Gonna nick some stuffz, as lots of good have been said already:
How does this relate to the other S-East styles? Representative?
African Style:
Does anyone know there's more African bonsai style stuff?
Only 'know' Neli from Africa, does anyone know more African bonsai artists?
I know there's a couple in South Africa, but can't think of names.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Progress has been made, beavers have been killed and I'll never sleep again. Thanks Bobby, thanks Cyrus.
So good so far, apparently African Bonsai consists of flattops, there's too much Murican 'soullessness' (gr8 word) to fit in one country, and the better you look at it, the less identical Japanese Bonsai is.
I guess Latin American bonsai is pretty much covered for now, as is Japanese, Latino and Taiwanese bonsai. @Starfox got Aussie bonsai up, and I'm now realizing the cultural differences in bonsai do not seem to be plenty, as Japan is still godlike tier and of huge influence in many bonsaikas.
That, and as @carp said, cultures influence each other easily.
Also, Muricans, would ya be so kind to do your own style? Yer like 90% in here, so someone has gotta say something about it.
It's almost Maarten bedtime now, especially since I'm feeling ill, so this will do for now. No idea when I find more time, but it won't be next century.
Thanks for engaging lads, appreciate it
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I have gotten to the point where my style is my favorite. I see something I like, and I don't care where it comes from, to me it's fair game for emulating. I'm tired of trying to force myself into some thing someone else likes, I'll be happy to constantly produce bonsai that I like.
Similar threads
