something about holding the vision in one's hand

maybe it's because of advancing years, but I'd like to think it's because of improved vision to actually "see". when i first got into bonsai and suiseki, bigger seemed to be better. Bold statement and believeability on the scale from the size.
Now with a few more decades under my belt, I'm able to see better in smaller trees and stones. Is this a normal progression? Does it come from not being able to man-handle two man stones or trees anymore? or is there something magical about extending one's hand to capture the vision cupped within? thoughts?

hm!

I can only speak for my self, but anyhow, I think it comes Down to pragmatics. Though I continue to aspire for larger bonsai (probably because I never really had any good large material), I have come to the logical conclusion that with smaller trees you can actually achieve more in a shorter time and still have much more of a challenging game ahead of you. Smaller bonsai are infact more demanding in every way, so naturally with the advanced experience with say the clip and grow method one would soon appreciate the greater challenge it is to create and maintain the perfect ramification vs. trunk ratio etc. in smaller bonsai. Age is a different aspect of reasoning with smaller bonsai...the less decades left in ones life does tend to put a certain perspective to Things. The lesser amount of fertilizer, soil/substrates, wire, fungicides and smaller pots etc., would also be part of the equation behind the magic of 'seeing' or visualizing what can be held in a hand.

just my two cents, sir :-)

Well IMHO smaller is much harder to accomplish! not only physically but mentally! more imagination needed.
In Shohin Bonsai watering, wiring, pruning, growing are made even more difficult because of smaller size.
In tiny Suiseki intricate daiza, visible ratios and orientations are extremely challenging because of size.
Then there is the feeling of being bigger and more powerful than the projected image, owner, creator of idea conveyed.
Written prayer on a grain of rice!, world in a drop of water!, micro chip!, smaller can be more attractive to eye and mind.
stonener
*less can be more*