Think you need a teacher?

[Walter Pall]

Might be attending this Woodstock VI in Harrisburg at Nature's Way Nursery. Looks to be one of the best in these parts.

http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com/2012/02/woodstock-v-at-natures-way-nursery-in.html

I look forward to see you there GrimLore.

In the International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg students have the unique chance to work on material that they would never want to afford for themselves. It is not uncommon for students to do serious work on trees with a price tag of over ten grand. We always concentrate on work that the season requires. In spring it is a lot of repotting. But it is not ordinary repotting it is about getting trees which in some cases are one thousand years old into a reasonable container in a good position. This is gardening craft on a very high level. But it is also bonsai design because folks learn how important a good position in a pot is. We also do major design with actual cuts on many trees. Folks can also bring their own tree for the workshop or they can also purchase on right there if they want. There are about 400 or more collected trees available. In addition we have some huge kiohime maples to work on.

 

[kakejiku]

In addition we have some huge kiohime maples to work on.

I always wondered what a pure princess looks like...

 

[gergwebber]

[QUOTEAdair M Then, i was able to take workshops from the likes of John Naka, Chase Rosade, and Bill Valvanis. Again, I learned a great deal from each of those masters.

But the material I used in those workshops was either trees I had in my own collection, or new stock I purchased for the workshop. Not finished bonsai, or even refined bonsai.]

this mirrors my thoughts:that bringing a stick in a pot to a high end workshop might not be great, but being emersed in the environment would be. I would hate to got to a workshop with a great teacher and not really have anything for them to say/do regarding my tree.

But am I wrong in thinking that you cannot listen to them critiqe and advise others in the room?

Information is important and learning how to apply all that you learn is the essential for success broadly speaking. Is it worth 1000s of dollars? ? ? ? ? ? not at this point in my life. But will I take any chance to be in the room when one of the masters is talking: of course. I have no interest in buying 1000 dollar stock. Hopefully I can grow my own. I have the time. But the knowledge is a prerequisite anyway. So keep typing guys!

 

[Poink88]

But am I wrong in thinking that you cannot listen to them critiqe and advise others in the room?

Kathy Shaner told me that usually a participant is so busy working on his/her respective tree to listen or learn when the teacher is moving around. That is why she recommended being a silent observer. You get to move with the teacher and listen/learn from all the conversations....for much cheaper too!

Of course it is not for everyone esp the ones who learn best on hands on type of environment.

 

[GrimLore]

Kathy Shaner told me that usually a participant is so busy working on his/her respective tree to listen or learn when the teacher is moving around. That is why she recommended being a silent observer. You get to move with the teacher and listen/learn from all the conversations....for much cheaper too!

Of course it is not for everyone esp the ones who learn best on hands on type of environment.

I can appreiciate that type of experience but I also think it will be a great to be able to work on some very good quality stock with some pros for a couple of days(perhaps 1-2 times a year). I am pretty certain it would be a great confidence booster and in addition give yourself an opportunity to have a real vision of what the future holds.

 

[Adair M]

Back when I took classes with Naka, yes, we certainly wanted to have material "worthy" of his time. I had a very nice large bald cypress. But it was still rather raw stock.

I'm not saying it wasn't worth my or his time. It definately was.

But working on Boon's trees is an entirely different experience, that's just not possible any other way. Boon can't bring hundreds or even dozens of trees to Georgia. If I want the experience, I have to go to him.

Just as Peter Tea, Owen Reich, Ryan Neil and others went to Japan.

From what I understand, there are some nurseries in Japan that are offering a short term apprenticeship. Maybe a couple of weeks. Or a couple of months. That's great, only, you would only get experience in doing that season's work.

The Intensives with Boon are spaced throughout the year, so you learn what you need to do at the proper season.

Vance, yes, it's expensive. And not everyone can afford it. And you're right. I spend more on travel than I do in fees. I try to "share the knowledge" as best I can. I post on here if I think I can help. I also give workshops at my local bonsai shop and share the knowledge I've obtained at the Intensive. Mind you, I'm not as good as Boon, but I try.

 

[berobinson82]

I get excited when Boon students share their knowledge rather than give the old, "Buy Boon's DVD" which seems to be the most common reply on BSG.

 

[GrimLore]

That is why I feel a 200.00 weekend with the chance to work on extreme stock would be a good experience. Not to mention the place is near Hershey Pa and we can stay at the Hershey hotel and get a real chocolate bath I could not do it weekly but certainly have spent 1/2 of that just to go camping a weekend a few times a year.

 

[Dan W.]

I get excited when Boon students share their knowledge rather than give the old, "Buy Boon's DVD" which seems to be the most common reply on BSG.

berobinson... I'm one of te guilty parties to suggesting Boon's videos, there or here. But I'm not a student of his (in person). I've just learned from those videos and know that others could as well. I see his students offer thier experience far more often than they suggest the DVDs.

 

[Adair M]

Boon's videos are great.

At the Intensives with Boon, we watch videos of Kimura. You can learn by watching the Masters.

At the classes I teach, I show Boon's videos, then we go work on trees.