Avant-garde Bonsai?

I've been working on this California Juniper for a few years trying to distill it down to it's essence, which I hope will be "avant-garde".
To achieve that end, a pot that completes the image is necessary. As I write this post, Dale Cochoy is making a pot that I have high hopes for. I have a feeling that the traditionalists will not be happy with the final product. If that is the case, then I may have succeeded in my effort.
Dale, hows the pot coming? I await with great anticipation.

The tree stands 34 inches tall from the pot rim.

Mike

Mike,

I consider myself a traditionalist when it comes to bonsai, mainly because that is how I was taught, and it is what I enjoy looking at. Having said that, I really like this tree ! It captures the essence of bunjin-gi....movement, balance, with grace. How different is the new pot compared to this one ? ( which looks like a Cochoy pot ? )

Ed Trout

Hi Ed
Thanks for your comments.
The current pot is from Houtoku. The image is a virtual of a small pot Dale made that I Photoshopped to enlarge and put the tree in. I think the pot Dale is making for me will be very similar to this one. As each is a one-off, the finished product may be a bit different, but will make the image I'm looking for.

Mike

G'day Mike...Marvelous tree...both pots work for me, however, my leaning is toward the virtual...

Great work again my friend...

Pat...mounted on my trusty steed riding off, wildly, in all directions.

Thanks Pat.
I'm looking forward to getting the pot and doing the transplant. I'll post the result as soon as the deed is done.

Mike

For a minute ther Mike, I thought you had "grafted" your award winner to a new trunk...?

Pat...mounted on my trusty steed riding off, wildly, in all directions.

I like your tree. I don't know if I'd call it avant garde though. I seem to remember seeing something quite similar to this in Naka's book.

Hi Mike:
I will be looking for the new pot. I have several pots that Dale had made for me, they are always the top of the line in looks and quality!

Fondest regards,
Carl

Sorry Mike, I should have signed the last post differently!

Carl L. Rosner
carlrosner.com

Mike,

Wonderful Dale pot in the virtual, but maybe just a tad larger ? Many years ago, we could get a literati/bunjin pot from Japan that was referred to as "primitive". They were round with irregular shapes, sometimes "dented" or deformed along their circumference. I really liked them & owned a couple for a while. As much as you may not want to hear this, I think that you have a traditional style ( avant guard maybe ), AND a very similar tree is in one of John Naka's books. It would look much better on a bonsai bench in South Florida !!!!!!! I'll pay shipping ??


Ed Trout

Mike,
I made three pots, 2 along these lines but w/ changes,
can't do the same one twice
all 3 are dry,
waiting to bisque
but, I'm really pushing that 3" depth!
( start trimming roots! )
No pics until done.

Dale

Thanks all for your comments.
Ed, my juniper has lived in California for hundreds of years, 30+ in my back yard. Going all the way to Florida to live may be too much of a shock for this old home-boy tree.
To add a little history to the post, the image is a sketch by the great John Naka at a 1980 workshop. Sorry John, but I didn't follow your direction with this tree. Guess I'm too damn independent.

Oh yeah, I see where you veered off a bit from the drawing.

Great tree. I really like it.

--- EDIT EDIT EDIT --->
It was in Craig Coussins book I saw a similar tree sketched. My mistake.

Nevertheless, great tree.

John Naka's sketch for the tree was very sweet. That would have been a great bonsai.

But if you look at page 250 of John Naka's book 2 you see something similar. Round pot BTW.

One can forget about California Juniper growing in FLorida. A fellow clubmember tried one and the humidity appears to have done it in.

Rob Kempinski wrote:John Naka's sketch for the tree was very sweet. That would have been a great bonsai.

But if you look at page 250 of John Naka's book 2 you see something similar. Round pot BTW.

One can forget about California Juniper growing in FLorida. A fellow clubmember tried one and the humidity appears to have done it in.

That's to bad, California Juniper is such a beautiful species.
I guess I'll have to move to Cali

Mike,
I KNOW, I've been draggin' my feet.
Here is the first pot I got fired ( of three) . All are different. This one is what I'd consider altered to three-sided ( I guess).
Inside is 12" x 3"
note the footing style.

Give it some time to grow on you!!
2 more choices soon.

Dale

Dale,
This is excellent; the distortion of the pot body, the dynamic foot, and glaze are in perfect harmony. Mike's superb tree will complete the design composition.


Mike,
Fantastic tree!

Thanks Luis, but, he'll have two others coming to also choose from.
D.

Dale, I'm starting to salivate with anticipation.

Luis, thanks for your kind words.

Mike

Mike,
I FINALLY got the other two pots fired.
Both these pots are 3" deep inside and about 11 1/2" deep at top inside.

Here is the last one, I'm considering this 4-sided altered round, with all four finished thusly.
with some carving.
Note the feet cut opposite of the first pot.
All interiors are finished the same..

Hi Dale
WOW! Looking great!! I guess it's time to talk dollars. I really like the first one and the last one. Can I buy them both? And how much?

Mike

Sure you can buy them both!
I thank you,
and my UPS store owner thanks you

I'll PM you.

Dale

In anticipation I've been doing some wiring and trimming on the tree. Also experimenting with a new planting angle. I think the tree will be leaned forward some when repotted.

I like the brush job on the bark. I also like how the foliage now is closer in on the inside of the 'knee' although not sure if thats a result of the wiring or change in view. Anyway, I like it like that.
On Friday you can flip a coin on which pot to try.

Dale