Cheers to all

Hello IBC,
This month marks my 3rd year of awareness, learning, growing and enjoying the art. As you would all know, 3 years is just about the time when we gain a better and clearer understanding of the art and trees start to show noticeable results of our work and progress. I don’t plan to join any shows anytime soon or sell my works. Right now, all I care about is the growth of my trees and always look forward to the days that each tree I tend to starts to reveal its beauty.

The materials below were collected, planted or styled throughout different occasions in the past 3 years.
Here’s to continuous growth and fruitful learning for the journey ahead.

As they say, learning is never complete.

Cheers!

Red Ficus (Ficus Concina) One of my first study materials I collected as a cutting.



Here it is today:



My first successful forest planting




first training pot just 8 weeks ago



My first raft material



first styling after a year of free growth



Another 2 year old study material



First styling after 2 years of free growth



Bargain material I saved and restyled



Defoliated and re-potted before growth season for new growth




A few materials to keep me excited for the year/s ahead

Clearly a very old Muraya now starting to show signs of survival only a few weeks after being collected.



A view of its amazing natural uro



My first Pemphis. After 3 years, I think I'm ready for it   



Getting the feel of its deadwood with some amateur carving tools



My next feat - re-potting my precious pemphis



A great looking Antidesma bunius, strong features, strong base. Collected last year - south of Manila



Looks like an opportunity to practice my uro carving skills with my new rotary tool on the way...



Hope you guys like it...

Cheers

I think you have the right idea. Keep at it.

Brunsai wrote: 3 years is just about the time when we gain a better and clearer understanding of the art and trees start to show noticeable results of our work and progress.

Make that 20 years. At least.
Iris

Iris,

Thank you very much. That's very good to know.

Nice Bignay Bruno. I have one similar to yours. very hardy tree.

Mark> wrote:Nice Bignay Bruno. I have one similar to yours. very hardy tree.

Thanks Mark, surely a long way to go...but nice material. Are you in the Metro Manila area? Hopefully we can meet soon - exchange thoughts...
Thanks again ;-)

"3 years is just about the time when we gain a better and clearer understanding of the art and trees start to show noticeable results of our work and progress."

You must have really good guidance and mentoring. I have been doing serious bonsai since 2008 (fiddling with bonsai since 2005 or earlier) and I am still learning a lot. Thank God I am relatively youngish... I can afford to make mistakes.

You have a good eye though.

juniper07 wrote:"3 years is just about the time when we gain a better and clearer understanding of the art and trees start to show noticeable results of our work and progress."

You must have really good guidance and mentoring. I have been doing serious bonsai since 2008 (fiddling with bonsai since 2005 or earlier) and I am still learning a lot. Thank God I am relatively youngish... I can afford to make mistakes.

You have a good eye though.

Very kind words Juniper07. Actually my guidance has been hands on application. Most books I read didn't conform with our country's conditions, so my first year was a rough learning curve. Right now, I'm becoming very fond of the "Clip & Grow" method - such a big difference in the results....
Although I'm actually looking to undertake some sort of apprenticeship with one a very good Filipino artist on this forum - I'm yet to meet him in person. haha.... And like you, I'm still learning so much, and like you, thank God I'm just as relatively youngish, so the journey's a stretch....

Thanks again!

Brunsai wrote:

Mark> wrote:Nice Bignay Bruno. I have one similar to yours. very hardy tree.

Thanks Mark, surely a long way to go...but nice material. Are you in the Metro Manila area? Hopefully we can meet soon - exchange thoughts...
Thanks again ;-)

It won't take long. Bignay grow fast. Yes I live in Metro Manila. I passby QC on a daily basis. Perhaps we can meet.