The Art of Bonsai Project

Thank you John. I play bass, guitar and (once in a blue moon) drums, by the way. I have been learing a lot in my club, from books and websites like this. I'm just starting to learn some Botany and I think that will be a huge help for me. For 12 years I played bass by ear with little training, then a buddy turned me on to a book named "The Bass Grimoire" which showed not just scales, but modes and how they were derived and related, then everything clicked for me and I got significantly better in a matter of weeks. I'm hoping to not wait 12 years for the same improvement in Bonsai. (I believe they also make a guitar grimoire book, and I've heard it's good, you may want to see if you can find it)

Dan,welcome to the forum.
Enjoy the art of creating little great trees!(Btw,I like more modern
classical guitar,especially Segovia !!)
Regards,
dorothy schmitz,florida

You're not the Bowflex guy are you? Just kidding.
Thanks for the tip on guitar grimoire. I'll keep an eye out for it.
Galilean Satellites? Cary?

I wonder how many artists can admit they are blind when observing their own bonsai but have perfect 20/20 vision when observing others?

Will

A fairly common affliction! I'm sure we're all guilty to some degree.
Mike

i would have to admit to feeling blind in both cases. but that's what we're all here is to learn from one another and improve not only our eye sight of others trees but our own as well. I would like to extend thanks to everyone who puts them selves out there and makes the knowledge we need to better hone our skills available to those of us who seek it.

I believe it is not only common, but I also believe it is an affliction. That's why I made the anorexia analogy. I believe we have a picture in our minds eye that is so set on the way the tree should look that we don't see the reality of what is in front of us. That's why taking pictures and reviewing them often, will help you. Pictures don't lie, you will quickly see from the picture that your tree is not as good as you thought it was.

I would expect that many cases of blindness might be diagnosed, if not cured in the current contest.
A contest that specifically requests world-class trees will get many entries that are and no doubt a few that are not, a few that only the final scores will reveal the true nature of to the blind in one eye participants.

Will

No doubt, but still the issue of an individual's ability to look at his/her's own material objectively is still a problem.

Maybe the term elite should apply to those who enlighten others, I personally have learned from reading this thread many thanks Brian

This reminded me of a trick I sometimes use when I feel a drawing needs to be improved. I look at my drawing in the mirror. The mirrored image is reversed, and I find it much easier to see where improvements should be made. I guess its a way of fooling your minds eye.

I wonder if this could be applied to bonsai?

Yes, I believe it can. I have found that with the advent of digital photography and not having to concern yourself with the cost of developing that a couple of photos will show you what your eye refuses to see. It is especially effective when shot against a back lite environment. This exposure will show you a multitude of sins so to speak.