What to do with a hand shape?

I am buying small trees and bushes, to make into bonsai, from Lowe's and that kind of place because they are kinda cheap and I am new and need something to learn to do bonsai. That is just peachy but they basically all have been pruned to come up a short distance and then have several branches come out in a sort of hand shape with all the branches about the same thickness. Mugo Pine, Junipers, Cotoneaster, Japanese Holly, "Chicago" Hardy Fig, Blue Princess Holly, Kumquat, Limequat, Jade Plant, etc etc etc. Everything is pruned the same. So, what would be the best style to make if you start out with a hand shape? Its practice stuff, so it won't matter if they all look the same style.

Looking for plants to get started with Lowes at or any store of the same nature will be disappointing. Your better off finding older stores that have stock that has been neglected or let to grow for a while. Hard to find but worth it in the end.

Commercial growers will put multiple cuttings in a pot, say 10, if five take root they have a bushy, salable plant sooner. I think if you examine some of these "hand shapes" you will find multiple plants in one pot.
Try visiting regular nurseries and looking at their neglected plants, that have been there a while, make an offer of 1/2 to 2/3 of list.
BUT, some of these will have the same defects because they frequently come from the same growers.
Also, depending upon where you live, nurseries clean out their stock at big discounts in the fall. I visit BeaverCreek, OH in October and the local nursery has heavy discounts on Japanese maples for example. The experience is somewhat painful for me because I can't grow them in Florida and they would be hard to bring home on the plane.