Don , I think you see and realize that that is from a photo shop contest. To answer your question, the answer is yes, but mostly not in the form shown, you can spend a lot of time developing credible deadwood. Cheng Cheng Kung is an exqample as is Dan Roninson, Bonsai Basho recently /currently is bringing us Kevin Wilson, and you have Grahm Potter, and Michele Andolfo, who all put in a tremendous effort to create dead wood. I have one that with a touch of carving will when viewed from the back will appear to be mooning you.
As to this fantasy picture, I have seen many using deadwood along with the living tree to have the tree tell a story, or to in the fantasy vein make thier trees look like dragons and such. My yes isn't exactly an answer as to the way I think you intended, but there are the other dimentions to carving, and shaping.
Then you have Nick Lenz, who will create a fantasy tree by growing a tree thru a toy car, or add a dolls head , a rack of ribs, or a hand to the project to get a fantasy, or tell a story. Then there was also the cascade in a bowling ball pot demo that shook the world of bonsai. The art part of it is a living changing part of what we do. someones next WOW piece could be a mame in the hands of WALL-E the little trash compactor from the movie of the same name.
Lots of not wrong answers to this one.
