I'm starting this thread as a discussion about bonsai education. In particular, the Intensive type of education where the student goes to the Master's location and works for a series of days on advanced material. These are usually a series where the student returns 3 or more times a year to do seasonal work, over a period of years.
It's the closest thing to being a bonsai apprentice as we have here in the USA.
I've been doing bonsai for 40 years. I started when I was 17. I saw a little trident maple at an Art Festival, and I've been hooked ever since. I took classes when I was in graduate school that taught me the basics of the styles, and took workshop from the traveling Masters when they came to town.
Two years ago, I stepped it up a notch. I learned about the Intensive series that Boon and Ryan were giving, and I decided that if I ever wanted to raise my bonsai skills, this was the time, and this was the way to do it. I chose Boon over Ryan because I am primarily interested in JBP, and that's Boon's specialty. Ryan's program (from what I've heard from two friends who attend them) is also excellent.
What happens? Class is from 8:30 until 6. We start with watching Japanese language videos of Kimura or other artists. Boon gives commentary about the species, and other insights as they occur on the video. Then, Boon has handouts of educational material about wiring, propogating, styling, etc. We go over these in detail. After lunch is when we actually work on the trees. It's seasonal work.
Classes range for 4 to 6 students. Everyone gets lots of one on one instruction. There will be a range of student experience: For some, it will be their first Intensive. For others, they may still be in their first year, or well on into the program. Boon personalizes the experience for each student. Those that are veterans will work on more advanced material. Newcomers, less so, or will be given less advanced work to do.
For me, my first Intensive was the fall class, and my first task was taking the wire off a highly refined JBP we call "Godzilla". It's huge. The trunk is as big around as my thigh. But only about 2 feet tall. Tons and tons of branches and twigs, and every one was detail wired. I was honored to work on it! And I got my first reprimand from Boon: I was told to remove the wire. So I reached for my trusty Masakuni wire cutters I've had for 40 years, and started cutting the wire in little chunks to remove. Uh, no, that's not the way Boon wanted me to do it. He wanted me to grab the wire with my jin pliers, and unspiral it. "But, Boon, this is the way Naka told me to do it, 40 years ago!", I said. Oh, boy, did I ever step in it! I was told in no uncertain way that I had "been doing it wrong!" for 40 years! LOL!!! My first lesson! Boon had said something about unspiraling it off, but I hadn't listened, thinking I already knew how to remove wire.
I now unspiral my wire. Lesson 1.
There's a reason. He didn't say it that day, it was either later in that Intensive, or maybe at another (when another newbie tried cutting off the wire) when I heard the reason for unwinding it. Boon was an apprentice in Japan, and he, too, cut off wire when his Master told him to unwind it. Boon said he was sure he could remove it safely by cutting it. Well, he did. And then the Master came to inspect it, and found a little chunk of wire that had been stuck in the crotch of a branch. Unwrapping it gets all the wire and doesn't leave any in a crotch.
Really big wire, does have to be cut off, we're talking about the smaller gauges here.
I'll more post more, later. My wife says I've been on the Internet long enough!
It's the closest thing to being a bonsai apprentice as we have here in the USA.
I've been doing bonsai for 40 years. I started when I was 17. I saw a little trident maple at an Art Festival, and I've been hooked ever since. I took classes when I was in graduate school that taught me the basics of the styles, and took workshop from the traveling Masters when they came to town.
Two years ago, I stepped it up a notch. I learned about the Intensive series that Boon and Ryan were giving, and I decided that if I ever wanted to raise my bonsai skills, this was the time, and this was the way to do it. I chose Boon over Ryan because I am primarily interested in JBP, and that's Boon's specialty. Ryan's program (from what I've heard from two friends who attend them) is also excellent.
What happens? Class is from 8:30 until 6. We start with watching Japanese language videos of Kimura or other artists. Boon gives commentary about the species, and other insights as they occur on the video. Then, Boon has handouts of educational material about wiring, propogating, styling, etc. We go over these in detail. After lunch is when we actually work on the trees. It's seasonal work.
Classes range for 4 to 6 students. Everyone gets lots of one on one instruction. There will be a range of student experience: For some, it will be their first Intensive. For others, they may still be in their first year, or well on into the program. Boon personalizes the experience for each student. Those that are veterans will work on more advanced material. Newcomers, less so, or will be given less advanced work to do.
For me, my first Intensive was the fall class, and my first task was taking the wire off a highly refined JBP we call "Godzilla". It's huge. The trunk is as big around as my thigh. But only about 2 feet tall. Tons and tons of branches and twigs, and every one was detail wired. I was honored to work on it! And I got my first reprimand from Boon: I was told to remove the wire. So I reached for my trusty Masakuni wire cutters I've had for 40 years, and started cutting the wire in little chunks to remove. Uh, no, that's not the way Boon wanted me to do it. He wanted me to grab the wire with my jin pliers, and unspiral it. "But, Boon, this is the way Naka told me to do it, 40 years ago!", I said. Oh, boy, did I ever step in it! I was told in no uncertain way that I had "been doing it wrong!" for 40 years! LOL!!! My first lesson! Boon had said something about unspiraling it off, but I hadn't listened, thinking I already knew how to remove wire.
I now unspiral my wire. Lesson 1.
There's a reason. He didn't say it that day, it was either later in that Intensive, or maybe at another (when another newbie tried cutting off the wire) when I heard the reason for unwinding it. Boon was an apprentice in Japan, and he, too, cut off wire when his Master told him to unwind it. Boon said he was sure he could remove it safely by cutting it. Well, he did. And then the Master came to inspect it, and found a little chunk of wire that had been stuck in the crotch of a branch. Unwrapping it gets all the wire and doesn't leave any in a crotch.
Really big wire, does have to be cut off, we're talking about the smaller gauges here.
I'll more post more, later. My wife says I've been on the Internet long enough!