Sorry, that's not the kind of corkscrew I was referring to. I was talking about the ones that Jim Gremel makes and sells. I'll have to search for an image. I don't own one.
Yes, I understand the kind you are referring too, I merely showed these cause there are many different ways of dealing with and accomplishing the effects we see in nature and I have managed to accomplish this same type of feature by merely wrapping wire tight and allowing the wire to bite in. Does this mean that Jims are correct and mine are incorrect? I don't think it does... if it allows one to accomplish a twisted trunk feature, what difference does it make on how one gets there?
Not trying to argue here... just disagree. The whole point of the thread was to perhaps show another way to accomplish what we are seeing in nature, and how perhaps we can go about replicating this... You have posted that what I am doing is somehow incorrect... that in your opinion it feels contrived, and that what I am doing is is good for practice towards good material, but that's about it.
I am not quite sure how this is correct and I understand that there is this kind of wall thing that is put up in Bonsai, that people cannot take crappy material and make into anything of any worth...
However, this simply is untrue. I mean, where do people think all of the awesome material that they get and buy to work on from Bonsai Nurseries comes from? I mean there is a whole industry in places like Japan and here in the states that do nothing but take typical nursery stock you can buy at a Big Box store, they do work on it add bends, twists, etc. Then later sell it to folks who miraculously, I guess just think the tree grew this way?
So, why can't people do the very same thing? I mean if Bonsai Nurseries do this, then I see no problem with ordinary folk doing this... yet time and time again, we tell them they can't... you told them they can't wirh your Bonsai Steps thread that you recently posted. Why? Again, not trying to be mean here. .. just asking the question...
If you look at the pictures of the example trees found in nature that I have posted you will see that over time often due to stress of perhaps freezing and thawing, falling rock damage, as well as just high winds, you will see that often it is quite common for tree's trunks to split and separate away from each other. Pic 7 shows this as well do the first couple of photos. This is what I am doing...my trees resemble this. Are they there yet? No, I am sure it will take many more years of development to bring it to this level... but what is wrong with getting the ball rolling?
I do have to question though, if the thoughts of the pieces I have done feeling "contrived", have more to do with the pieces being done by me? I mean, I am not trying to say my work is great, or that I am so awesome here... but, I do have to question that if I showed up with the very same material pulled down from the mountain, that looked identical, how many people would question it's contrived look?
Perhaps it is just the "Narcissist" in me... for this seems to be a common thought around here when I post anything... but, just because everyone's vision of how stuff should be done, does not match mine... how is it wrong? I mean... my work is not the greatest, I will admit that, but I am not quite sure how anyone can actually look at my body of work, and the things I post on a daily basis and even begin to question that what I am doing, does not work. Especially, when it seems clearly evident that it does. I understand that I didn't go to Japan to study, or study under a master, so I have no credit ability. Just sitting in my own back yard here, teaching my how to do things... But, what is funny is I am doing the very same things, and they are working.
I mean look what I have done here... I have split two trees in half, ( I actually have more, just haven't posted them yet),they have lived, I have done severe bending, which only masters from Japan in videos seem to be capable of doing, they have lived. Have done notching and bending, they have lived, have stripped whole live veins off of trees, leaving nothing but a live vein of a quarter of an inch, and they have lived... have done substances carving on trees, have done pretty impressive displays, my tree is going as well to Nationals, it to will be shown with the USA ' S great trees. All this stuff are things people think only the best in Bonsai can do... only things "Masters" can do... yet, I have done them. I mean, I would not even begin to try and compare myself to Boon, but even you would have to admit that Boon would probably be quite impressed with what i have nanaged to accomplish and with no formal training. Have a little faith my friend.
