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Without having to jump from one web site to another, I would suggest that you go to Walter Pall's web site and look at his trees. IMHO, there is a good representation as to "world class trees" compared to "really, really, really nice trees". I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth, but I'd venture to guess that even Walter Pall would say that a percentage of his trees are not world class, and some will never be.
For my own taste though, I'd also bet that the trees I'd pick as world class today may not rank the same (in my own mind) 10-20-30-40 years from now, because people (including me) loose interest over time with the same styles, varieties, pot choices, accent plants, etc.
If all we saw was Mugo pines winning all the time, it wouldn't take long before we'd begin to approach them with a meh!, no matter what level of skill it required to design them.
IMHO, if you want a world class tree, I'd shoot to design something that no one else is designing... in other words don't mimic the trees that are winning shows now; you will never catch up, or if you do, the tastes might have changed by that time. That is why I don't like to see people asking others for design ideas in forums like these. The tree (nature), your skills, and time, will design the tree... go with what you're given and run with it. Again, I'll quote Walter Pall (and others) when they say the health of a tree is the most important aspect to this art... if the tree is healthy, it might, just might provide everything that you need to design it into a world class bonsai... if you don't cut it off or destroy it in some other fashion before its given the chance.
Personally, I'd like to see some world class bonsai shown in the smallest grow box that the tree will fit in. Weathered and water stained, rotting and beaten, then and only then will the "tree" be judged for what IT is. (I do understand and respect the skills of good presentation, but I think a lot of people would be surprised how the best tree in their garden would stack up to a world class tree without all the trimming... like the hot babe on the runway, I'll bet the flaws tend to show up when the makeup and designer clothes come off!)
For my own taste though, I'd also bet that the trees I'd pick as world class today may not rank the same (in my own mind) 10-20-30-40 years from now, because people (including me) loose interest over time with the same styles, varieties, pot choices, accent plants, etc.
If all we saw was Mugo pines winning all the time, it wouldn't take long before we'd begin to approach them with a meh!, no matter what level of skill it required to design them.
IMHO, if you want a world class tree, I'd shoot to design something that no one else is designing... in other words don't mimic the trees that are winning shows now; you will never catch up, or if you do, the tastes might have changed by that time. That is why I don't like to see people asking others for design ideas in forums like these. The tree (nature), your skills, and time, will design the tree... go with what you're given and run with it. Again, I'll quote Walter Pall (and others) when they say the health of a tree is the most important aspect to this art... if the tree is healthy, it might, just might provide everything that you need to design it into a world class bonsai... if you don't cut it off or destroy it in some other fashion before its given the chance.
Personally, I'd like to see some world class bonsai shown in the smallest grow box that the tree will fit in. Weathered and water stained, rotting and beaten, then and only then will the "tree" be judged for what IT is. (I do understand and respect the skills of good presentation, but I think a lot of people would be surprised how the best tree in their garden would stack up to a world class tree without all the trimming... like the hot babe on the runway, I'll bet the flaws tend to show up when the makeup and designer clothes come off!)
