top 5 choices of bonsai folks to hang out/work with

if you could hang out with and work with your favorite bonsai practioners,
who would it be ?
it would probably be hard to pick just one, so list your top 5 choices:

in no particular order

walter pall (done)
arthur joura (done)
dan robinson (possible but expensive trip)
vance wood (totally do-able)
graham potter (a prohibitively expensive trip)

damn... i'm gonna take a 6th to throw in ANDRE B !

Ohw.. This is gonna be a good thread!

Hm not sure whether this is a definite top-5, but these would certainly be great pleasures to be able to work with (again)

Pavel Slovak (Done)
Hans van Meer (Done)
Walter Pall (visited & watched working in his garden, not worked with)
Will Baddely (done)
Mauro Stemberger

Vance Wood
Al Keppler
Mr.Myagi

Here are a few from my perspective.

1) Artists I've worked with/met

- Bill Valavanis - I may be a little biased since I'm fortunate to live near Bill, have worked with him in workshops,
                     seen him demo numerous times. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of everything and everyone
                     in bonsai, has a great talent for design, has great stories.

- Kathy Shaner - She has great technical knowledge and is a patient teacher. She takes the time to make sure
                       you understand what she is teaching. Good demos, good sense of humor.

- Hiro Yamaji - I have seen him demo a number of times and observed/sat in on a workshop he did at Bill's place
                   after the last National Exhibition. Was very impressed with what he was able to do with the workshop
                   trees.

2) Others I'd like to work with

- Suthin - Have you ever seen the quality of his trees, especially shohin? Enough said!

- Boon - Seems like a great teacher, has beautiful trees, his students love him...just have to be careful not to turn
            into a SOB! (just kidding)

- Ryan Neil - Have seem him demo, seems very confident and capable. People who have worked with him only have
                good things to say.

- Walter - Has certainly generated a lot of conversation over the years! I like the way many of his trees look and
             would like to have the chance to see what he's all about in person.

3) Miscellaneous

Dan Robinson - I don't care for many of his trees, at least based on the photos I've seen, but I'd like to travel
                    out there and see for myself. Bet he would be an interesting guy to hang out with.

To chime in on the tropical side,because that is where I am.Also, in no particular order(an oh so useful participial phrase):
Anthony
khaimraj
jun
carp(if he could stand me being around and v.v.)

Otherwise,in case I find myself in more temperate climes:
Arthur Joura
Dan Robinson
Walter Pall
W. Valavanis(sp?)
Leatherback
sorce
More than five,but,as I intimated,split personality here.

Oh my, makes my brain hurt. But I think I would agree with Kevin. That is a great list of my favorites.

Kevin it would be interesting to expand your list to those currently practicing AND our beloved masters you have gone to that great bonsai garden in the sky.

Graham Potter
Walter Pall
Will Baddelley
Kevin Wilson
SandevBonsai
Arthur Joura
Harry Harrington
etc,etc,etc

7

Boon Manakitivipart
Bjorn Bjorholm
Suthin Sukosolvisit
Shinji Suzuki
Min Hsuan Lo

That would be my team. Much respect to everyone in the field but I'm a sucker for those guys

Peter Warren
Boon
Kora Dalager
Greg Brenden
Michael Hagedorn

Peter Warren
Michael Hagedorn
Boon
Shinji Suzuki
Bill Valvanis:  maples

Too restrictive your list, Kevin!

Peter Warren (done)
Walter Pall
Will Baddeley (carving)
Morten Albek
Marco Invernizzi
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DougB wrote:Oh my, makes my brain hurt.  But I think I would agree with Kevin.  That is a great list of my favorites.

Kevin it would be interesting to expand your list to those currently practicing  AND our beloved masters you have gone to that great bonsai garden in the sky.

no restrictions to only the living... but choosing a dearly departed would be quite the commitment

luckily, the milwaukee bonsai society has such a strong commitment to bringing in respected artists, that i have been able to see many on all of your lists... stemberger, suthin. shaner, tea, joura, etc etc...

and i saw sorce on someones list... the newest member of the arbor arts collective !!!

best choice of them all so far goes to mike for mr. miyagi

1.Any
2.Friend
3.Or
4.Stranger
5.Around

be my choices I think...

It would be wicked hanging out with Myagi wouldn't it?
Talk about bonsai and Okinawa and karate and waxing cars.........

i gotta watch that movie one of these days !!!
time for a public library request

Ha....you elitist snobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinking I would like to have some "workshops" with the folks that have posted.....
loosely translated...."work" on some bbq...."shop" for some beverages.....

HIihihihiiihhii........

What's the setting? Me and a bunch of other cattle shuffling around?
Can't imagine the cost needed to attract a "name" to my backyard... ...

Wouldn't it be cooler if I showed up at your place with "goodies" of premium stock bought with the money saved?
A plus for me would be a place to stay in Hawaii and Greece!!!! ....of course, I can't bring any trees with me when I come....

Hehehehee.....
I like other folks like me, growing stuff because they enjoy it....I get weird looks from some people when I can't go somewhere because I "have to water"!!!
probably just like ya' all.......

who said anything about paying anyone any money ???
if it costs me anything beyond my own expenses, then my list would be greatly shortened !

but as you suggested, my favorite bunch is the AAC crew here in MKE, just as yours is probably johnny nomad...
we get together, work on trees, chew the rag, drink drinks and grill meat... makes for a perfect day...

to do that with someone like graham potter, apart from any of the typical dog & pony banzai show, would be a hoot...

Wu Yee Sun
Hu Yunhua
Murata
Da Vinci
Rapheal

and George because he was decent enough to mention me.
Also Ma Yuan.

Sorry, I also need a bit more than just folk who grow trees to grow a tree.
So I also add,

Boccaccio
D.G.Rossetti
Enid Blyton
J.R.R.Tolkien
and Claudia Peters- the lady who taught me how to grow pigeon peas, corn and pumpkin in clay soils,
with compost/manure starting when I was 5 years old..
Laters.
Khaimraj

Bonsai requires a bit more than just how to Lingnan.

geo wrote:
Leatherback

huh? Why would you want that..!? Don't think Iwould be the one people can learn from! And I have a horrible personality!
In any case... Will be in Mexico in October No clear plan yet as to where exactly. For sure we can try to find a bar!

Cheers from Brasil(!)

That would be great Leatherback.You would be the first bonsai guy to talk directly to since I moved to Baja.

OK, if I make it to Baja, will let you know.

How are the beeches there in Oktober?

They are fine:rough water(undertows,dropoffs and riptides) on the west beaches.Better for swimming on the East Cape, But,going North from Cabo San Lucas,we almost completely lose the timeshare hell.
BTW is that "tutorials and stuff" your site?

OK, cool. Sounds like a good area to do some coastal hiking.

Yeah, I know. My website needs a bit of work. Just can't seem to get around to write some more stuff down.