The Head of Medusa

Hi Bonsai friends, this Larix decidua was collected in 2003 in Austria. 2009, the first time styled, now I have re styled, I gave her the name "Head of Medusa".

Nice tree. Hope to see pictures in the spring.

uau ......im fascinated...... Ich gratuliere Sie

I've said it before Karl, and I'll say it again. Wow...Top trees

I very much like the trunk movement. How long has it been in training?

Very good work!! you waited a long time for the first styleing..hope the first picture will be the front...take care john

I like your tree! Lovely!
Todd

wow awesome tree! very good work!.
regards...

Thank you for your compliments bonsai friends.

Love it- except for the jinned root on the left. It looks a little like the tree is tipping to the right, like the left side of the nebari has been lifted from the soil. It's just an optical illusion, I think if you remove that piece of deadwood it will stabilise the image of the tree.

cheers

It's turned me to stone!

Nice job. And here is a case where a rule is broken (first branch to the rear) but still looks good.

Hi Karl,

Very nice! Congratulation.

Budi

It's beautiful!!! I wonder if larch can survive in the tropic...?

Pola wrote:! I wonder if larch can survive in the tropic...?

Not unless you invest in a lighted freezer.

Rob Kempinski wrote:It's turned me to stone!

Nice job. And here is a case where a rule is broken (first branch to the rear) but still looks good.

Rules? I personally don't agree AT ALL with rules in bonsai. They stifle artistic impression and create boring, regimented bonsai. The branch in question pierces the negative space and gives the tree excellent depth.

will baddeley wrote:

Rob Kempinski wrote:It's turned me to stone!

Nice job. And here is a case where a rule is broken (first branch to the rear) but still looks good.

Rules? I personally don't agree AT ALL with rules in bonsai. They stifle artistic impression and create boring, regimented bonsai. The branch in question pierces the negative space and gives the tree excellent depth.

Rules are guidelines but I am certain you follow rules whether you recognize it or not.

haiku

METAMORPHOSIS

MEDUSA TRANSFORMATION

A BONSAI LEGEND


mp

Rob Kempinski wrote:

will baddeley wrote:

Rob Kempinski wrote:It's turned me to stone!

Nice job. And here is a case where a rule is broken (first branch to the rear) but still looks good.

Rules? I personally don't agree AT ALL with rules in bonsai. They stifle artistic impression and create boring, regimented bonsai. The branch in question pierces the negative space and gives the tree excellent depth.

Rules are guidelines but I am certain you follow rules whether you recognize it or not.

I agree with Rob on this one...When designing a tree,we do always put this in our mind before any work is being done.But like this one tree has great outlook to it.
Regards,
Alex

Maybe I was a bit vague here. Young trees tend to conform to rules governed by genetics and form of species, but as they get old this is less evident. I have seen too many teachers stick to the rules and turn a quite interesting students tree into something lacking in character and branches. Having taught bonsai for ten years or so, the message I try to get across is to go with your feelings,good balance, form and a story about that particular tree. this is certainly more necessary with old collected material. Sorry Rob I did sound a bit pompous.

mike page wrote: haiku

METAMORPHOSIS

MEDUSA TRANSFORMATION

A BONSAI LEGEND


mp

Mike, in fact these larch has made since the first styling one METAMORPHOSIS,
I have this larch a bit changed more .
Now you can see the tree trunk and move better when the larch get their leaves.

Karl Thier wrote:in fact these larch has made since the first styling one METAMORPHOSIS,
I have this larch a bit changed more .
Now you can see the tree trunk and move better when the larch get their leaves.

Karl,

bold choice to eliminate the first few branches. It works though, the tree looks older and captures the image of a mature tree better in the new mode. The simpler style is more dramatic too. Good call.

Excellent! I love it.