Planning ahead

I know, the title is redundant (you can't plan behind -- at least not in a time sense), but I'm juststarting to think of combinations that might work for a forthcoming (October) show. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

First thoughts:



Second, and I think better, thoughts:

Hi Jim,
I like the second one.
It has a better flow in my mind. From a high mountain top, to the windy slope to the foot of the mountain.
The suiseki in the middle is a good distraction.
I did not like the huge white pot in the first one [ personal preference here ]
But the empty pot in the second one is distracting me... My eyes roams about but ends up on it because its empty. Its kind of annoying... it feels like an incomplete scene...
Maybe if you had a kusamono [ grass or just moss in the pot ] .... but once again that's just my personal taste.

Thanks. I agree on all counts. Try this -- as an empty space is perfectly acceptible.

 
Yeps this display looks more balanced and harmonious to me.
The removal of the empty pot in the front and replacement with a suiseki is a definitive plus IMO.

I don't mind empty pots on a display on their own, but when mixed with "occupied" pots it looks kind of cheap or hastily put together somehow...
well just my way of viewing it though.

Jim the last one, with the empty space, gives me an uncomfortable feeling. I think it is because the white pot helps draw my attention to the empty space. And the trees are an uncomfortable feeling in my peripheral vision. Just my 1.5 cents worth. Oh and thanks for your many inspiring posts.

It seems, I can never get enough threads on display. So this is quite welcome.

I think the mixture of pots, styles and colors is good. The last photo with a stone
in the featured display and on the table is one too many to my ideal.
With the display where the center is vacated, I very much am drawn to the missing space. I think this would work in a show where the orginator would not be available to explain why. With no one there people will have to ask THEMSELVES why.

In display, I have come to consider techniques that retain a viewer, even for a short time to contemplate something is better than the constant moving line of viewers that accept and move on.

thanks for taking the time to post

Thanks, all. That "stone" in the last pic is a soapstone carving of a garden snail. It shows poorly on that table which is antique early faux something or other and has no business having a bonsai stand on it. Jackie didn't like it, either, and since this display is likely to be on a wide table with quite a few other small bonsai, it won't be there when it counts.

I'm toying with substituting this kusamono for that small azalea bottom left. Yes? No? I'm ambivalent. I'm not wild about the azalea, but have nothing else.

DougB wrote:Jim the last one, with the empty space, gives me an uncomfortable feeling.  I think it is because the white pot helps draw my attention to the empty space.  And the trees are an uncomfortable feeling in my peripheral vision.  Just my 1.5 cents worth.  Oh and thanks for your many inspiring posts.

Sorry, I don't see a "white" pot . . .

Sorry Jim old eye and small image. What ever the white item is in the center just above and to the right of the empty shelf.

Ah, it's a stone.

I like the las image the best, the one thing my eye doesn't seem at peace with, is the bottom two trees being much the same height. Could the left one be wired, or trimmed a but shorter? I like the "empty" spot, it's calm now. The stone may just not be the right one? Maybe smaller, flatter...

The stone may just not be the right one? Maybe smaller, flatter...

But it's my favorite (small) stone (he said plaintively).  A mother and child.  2 1/2 inches.   Maybe a flatter stand?





That lower left-hand tree (a Kurume azalea) is my least favorite, too (at least when it's not blooming).  But you use what you have and it's "ok" in real life.  (Unless I substitute the succulents??)

No,no, not the beautiful white stone, the large accent piece stone. I love the white one. Succulents in the lower left? Show us?

Oh, that. It's not a stone, though it is OF stone. It is a soapstone carving of a garden snail my wife made for me years and years ago. I was running out of tabletops to put all the stuff that's normally on the display and the table the display sits on so that was merely an, apparently unsuccessful, attempt at wise ass humor.

It would take a good 45 minutes to clear everything away, bring in all the trees, and recreate that display with the succulents added, so it may be a while . . .

Here it is with the succulents instead of the little azalea. Note that I also switch the stands under the tall juniper pot up top and the stone.

Here is another idea. I suggest  you lose the rock on the bottom of the display table.

Bill

That works, too!  Thanks, Bill.

I put something different under the juniper.



I LIKE IT.

FWIW- I do too...