Marija and Andrija have prepared some trees for exhibit in Dusseldorf, Germany

Marija and Andrija from Kastela near spit in Croatia are known by now pretty well in the European bonsai scene. Five years ago they have started to work whit me in the International Bonsai Academy. After two acceptances for Noelanders Trophy and one acceptance for Bonsai Autumn they had their coming out as bonsai artists. At Bonsai Autumn they even won a Dragon award plus an award of the Bonsaimuseum Dusseldorf for the most natural looking tree in the exhibit. As a consequence they were invited to have a special exhibit in the museum for six weeks in the museum and provide eight or more trees. Last year it was difficult to come up with that number of presentable trees. But now they are ready. Over the past weekend we have worked hard to select twelve trees and get them in shape. One has to consider that these tree were only collected from six months ago to five years ago. Therefore some are still inn early development stage, while already presentable somehow.
Anyway, I'm very happy with my students and wish them god luck.



Olea europea sylvestris




Prunus cerasifera






Philirea latifolia




Olea europea sylvestris - this one will be wired within the next days



Arbutus unedo




Carpinus orientalis

Carpinus orientalis







Pistacia lentiscus







Quercus ilex




Philirea latifolia







Philirea latifolia


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Carpinus orientalis

Well now, I normally dont take slappings in the face, but i offer both cheeks

Thanks for the post, loaded with quality trees of which some really are quite astonishing indeed. The cherry seems quite simple next to the others, but to me it's a topper...

I truely believe you when you say you feel happy with your students

Happy? I would be delighted with any one of these trees!! They are another inspiration to those of us who are just "Triers". Cheers.

Thanks for posting Walter. Great trees from students of a great teacher. You have taught your students well.
Tona

Mr. Pall,

these are beautiful efforts, but I do have problems with the spindly branches that don't seem to fit those large trunks.
They don't feel natural. It is as though the trees need to be grown on for more time and allow the branches at the base to thicken enough to feel like they belong.

Please don't get me wrong, I like the main shapes of most of them, especially the Philirea l.and I hope this does not spark off an argument. I do prefer natural looking trees.
Thank you for showing.
Khaimraj

Khaimraj,

did I not say that all these trees were sitting in the Croatian nature six months to five years ago? These trees are in very early development. This is just the start. Imagine what these trees will look like in twenty years!

I stand corrected Mr. Pall.
Thank you.
Khaimraj

Thanks for the post Walter.

I have to say the Carpinus orientalis trees look magical, truely wild and natural. I can just imagine with a little taper in the branches and not too far in the future and they would wow anyone who loves deciduous trees. They are beautiful trees and world class beginnings. Congratulations to the owners. what lovely treasures!

Cheers and thanks for the photos,
Adam

[quote="Walter Pall"]I'm very happy with my students and wish them good luck.

Olea europea sylvestris



Walter,

I'd be proud of my students as well if they were producing this quality of work. A true testament to the teacher and students. Great job to all of you. This is my favorite. How tall is it? It looks gigantic.

Thank you for posting and keep them coming.
Sam

Awesome trees! Congrats to all! Amazing what different backgrounds can do for a tree, often underestimated I'd say.

Walter, your students - who are very talented- are now becoming "traditionalists". They are following the tradition of their master..

Best,
Dorothy

Sam,
many of these trees are huge, some incredibly huge. See Marija and Andrija in comparison. They are normal size folks.

Thanks for sharing Walter. I love these last "workshop" pictures. There you can see the the giant sizes of trunks. All trees great potential and congrats to talented students. Keep us posted. Appreceate

Walter,

First, congratulations to Marija and Andrija. They are doing fantastic work, and I am sure that you are giving them good guidance. I look forward to meeting you in South Africa next year.

This post of yours reaffirms my belief that we spend too much time fiddling about with marginal material and not enough time finding truly good stock. In a post a few days back I made observations that may seem contradictory, but I believe that rough material is an excellent way to learn and may be developed into good or even excellent material, but that truly exceptional trees are that much easier to create from truly exceptional material. One of my great annoyances is some of the fantastic pines you Northern Hemisphere bonsai folk can collect. I love pines, but the yamadori material here is poor. We do have a lot of lovely olives and budlejas here, so this makes our yamadori focus different. A good friend recently saved some mind-blowing pyracanthas from a garden being redone.

Excellent work with fantastic material!

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Legg wrote:

This post of yours reaffirms my belief that we spend too much time fiddling about with marginal material and not enough time finding truly good stock.

Andrew,

if you really want to create great bonsai it is a good idea to start with great material. The material is there. You only have to understand the importance of quality and then look for it.

Walter Pall wrote:

Andrew Legg wrote:

This post of yours reaffirms my belief that we spend too much time fiddling about with marginal material and not enough time finding truly good stock.

Andrew,

if you really want to create great bonsai it is a good idea to start with great material. The material is there. You only have to understand the importance of quality and then look for it.

Agree 100% Walter, but it seems a pity for such fantastic material to be damaged or destroyed by inexperienced hands. If under the watchful guidance of an experienced person it is a fantastically rewarding and privileged way to learn bonsai. I have been through the process of learning the basics using rough material, and now I give that material on to others who are just starting out while I seek better stock with which to work. My biggest lesson in bonsai has been to push the boundaries of my abilities and creativity and to not get stuck in a rut or comfort zone. I too am privileged to have access and friendship with some fantastically capable and talented people here in Cape Town with whom I can make that journey.

By the way, if you wish to come down to Cape Town in 2013, I'd be very happy to show you around.

Regards,

Andrew

Those are beautiful trees Walter, and much larger than I thought too! In time, they will be truly special! So Congrats to Marija and Andrija!

(Did you get a chance to see that RMJ that I got after styling with Peter?)

WOW, incredible! Thanks for the post.

After this I must say that Andrija and I are content with our progress in last five years.
All of that would not be possible without Walter as mentor. It is precious when you have one that push you forward when you start running in circles.

Very impressive and stimulating! I wish Marija and Andrija every success! Thanks for posting, Walter!

To see the preparation of the exhibit trees and work on others go to my travelogues:
http://walter-pall-travelogues.blogspot.de/

I look forward to see all the trees, created from fantastic material, in exhibition

Kind regards Yvonne

Waouh, impressive.

Marija and Andrija,

I love your work