IMAGE HOSTING

This is my first try to host an image - the image is of an Acacia tree some where in Africa ( not my picture)
Do we see such shape often in BONSAI DESIGN ?
I would be delighted to see if our esteemed and respected members have done such designing as seen in nature.
I am sure some one must have done it .
If they please show it here -that would help to my knowledge ( very poor at present). Thanks.


[img][/img][img][/img]

Hi Somaya,
When i posted my adenium asking wether it's bonsai or not?One member posted a similar picture,it is one of those orthodox design im trying,although it may not be a popular palete to others but something to consider.I have a small maba tree thats in the making,will try to post it soon.
Thanks for sharing and be well always,
Regards,
Alex/Ogie

Hi Somaya,

I think I came across this tree looking through some online South African Bonsai galleries. As you can see it is a great bonsai in this style. It is fantastic to see bonsai artists portraying native species in their native style. Whilst not necessarily conforming to traditional bonsai styling rules, it certainly is an evocative tree and scene.

Nice one there Nick....True form of the art

Alex

Somaya,
hi.
there is a post here a few days ago. African exhibition, PTETORIA BONSAI KAI. there are lot of african styled trees posted there. I think it will answer some of your queries.

regards,
jun

Soumya,

I have local acacias growing for trunk and root placements, to tackle the "Giraffe eaten tree style", but it will be a few years.

Try a design of this tree for yourself. Print image.
Then do a tracing of the trunk, branches, and if you can locate a few shots of the roots, and see if the design works or if a few branches have to be moved or left out.
Don't understand?
Just ask and I will do a sample for you.

Remember also that this is a 3d design, so from the top looking down, it may look like an irregular circle.
Until.
Khaimraj

* More information to come.

Hello Soumya. In Africa there was an artist called Pierneef who used to paint pictures of landscapes with trees like this. Pierneef's name was adopted by bonsai folk to represent this style of tree.

Hi Soumya.

I think on this link you will find some interesting pictures form trees inspired by african nature.

Pretoria Bonsai Kai exibition - https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/bonsai-f1/pretoria-bonsai-kai-exhibition-t4436.htm

Regards, Roland

Soumya,

I built my tamarind tree from examples in Nature. I have been trying to discover how to create the bark effect. I have some other photos of an old tree and it's trunk when I find them I will put them up for you.
Khaimraj

From Nature -



The inspiration - Page 31 - Bonsai in your home - Lesniewicz
Tamarind in rice fields



My tree in 97 - base is larger today

Khaimraj,

I think your tamarind is very nice and it deserves a separate post of its own.
its so natural looking.

regards,
jun

You are being kind Jun, but thank you. Old images by the way, shown here a while ago. A great of work to do still. Very raw.
Khaimraj

No, really Khaimraj, your tree is very nice for me.
the trunk size and the left first branch is well proportioned to the upper branches and the well developed canopy.
I have lot of huge tamarind which would still take me at least six years to be proportioned. your problem with bark aged look will ofcourse comes with the natural aging process of the tree, and thats another story.

regards,
jun

Charles S. Ceronio, a South African himself, has written and published a very interesting book -- Bonsai Styles of the World -- ISBN 0-620-32677-8 which discusses and illustrates several African styles, and styles from other areas of the world to, along with the traditional bonsai and penjing styles.

It is a book that is well worth having.

http://www.pretoriabonsaikai.org/08africanstyles.htm

The acacia in the first image is called - The Flat Top Style according to above.
So much for my giraffe .... - chuckle.
Khaimraj

I feel myself honoured and enlightented by so many rich responses.
Thank goes to NICKfor the image of authentic example of the Pierneef/ Flat-top style.
The very special design of the pot is novelty alongwith the unique Bonsai design .
Special thanks to Jim for the resourceful information on the Book .
Thanks to Will Baddeley for the info on PIERNEEF- THE ARTIST.
Ronuldp has provided an useful link -thanks.
Ogie/Alex and jun -thanks for contribution.
And Mr. khemraj- thanks for the offer to help me build the design in my Bonsai .
My only regret is only one image of true 'Pierneef' style Bonsai has come -up so far.
Is it very difficult design or as it is a apparently a regional natural aspect in nature that is why it is seems not very popular?

Soumya, here is the post refered to:
https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/bonsai-f1/pretoria-bonsai-kai-exhibition-t4436.htm?highlight=pretoria[/url]

Interestingly, the tree in Nick's post is not actually an Acacia but a Budleja Saligna - White Olive (or False Olive).

Well, Justin, thanks for the interesting info-however the tree depicts the Flat-top style to some extent. But what about ACACIA BONSAI in such style? Isn't Acacia found in U.S.A.( Florida)or Europe9Spain, Italy partly)?
I still wonder why we don't see much of this species in Bonsai. There are some flowering types too i am told. Some said because of thorns people don't prefer Acacia.
I'm also told that some thornless dwarf flowering types are available - is it correct?

Soumya,

you probably don't see a great many of th Flat topped design, because, it is simple and in it's simplicity very difficult to do and get believable results.

If you look carefully at the first Acacia image, the branch movement and negative spaces are very deceptive. They satisfy the eye, but appear to be nothing. Not an easy thing to do in Bonsai. Most will probably just grow a triangle.
[ These points are made only towards the problematics of the Acacia Image. I intend no critiques - okay folks.]

With these impulses to creating variations of previously not shown natural trees, there will be many attempts, and most will end up very raw. The Japanese and Chinese have had many centuries to ponder these ideas, hence the "styles", hopefully we learn from them and do not attempt to re-invent the wheel. You see this in Fine Art all the time, wanting to be an individual, instead of just doing and it happens naturally.

So I guess the only way to discuss this style is by bringing to the table examples of efforts having been grown and discussing the aspects.
Out of that will come refinement and yet another ------ Style -----chuckle.
Philosophically Practical.
Khaimraj

[quote] "With these impulses to creating variations of previously not shown natural trees, there will be many attempts, and most will end up very raw. The Japanese and Chinese have had many centuries to ponder these ideas, hence the "styles", hopefully we learn from them and do not attempt to re-invent the wheel. ".-Khaimraj
Well i think my intention of askinkg for Acacia in Bonsai design i could not convey clearly.
The question of reinventing the wheel is not relevent to this topic in my understanding.
What i was wondering in my last post is the paucity of Acacia in Bonsai design- Flat -top happens to be its natural style of growing in Africa but not in India.
With all due regards to the Masters and pioneers of Chinese Pensai or Japanese Bonsai they have probably not been aware of certain styles of tree growing in other parts of the world such as the FICUS WITH AIR-ROOT OR THE BAOAB OR THE FLAT-TOP ACACIA.
These specific tree growing styles have been incorporated by someone somewhere.
When they did that they created a new kind of wheels(!) -pneumatic/tubeless so to say.
The link of Pretoria Bonsai Kai exbn pics shows many attempts at Flat-top styles.
It has been a new kind of experience for me.I HAVE ALREADY PLANNED TO TRY SUCH NEW STYLES .
- IBC is a great learning place!!! Thank you Mr.Khaimraj.