Mattbonsai

It's probably the Dwarf Pampass Grass in the background, although it blows the whole Anonymous thing out of the window, here's the pic I've entered for BOTM:

-Matt-

Attached Images

Mattbonsai, Ligustrum BOTM.JPG (32.8 KB, 21 views)

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M.B.

Ah who cares if they know who owns the tree, as long as it's yours.
That's a better picture than the other. I think the dead wood needs work. I went to the big seminar in Riverside, CA this past November and Dan Robinson did several demos on dead wood carving. He'de tear into that thing with his Makita and have it looking "ancient" in a matter of minutes. I have some pictures I could try to post to give an idea. It was amazing how fast he could carve up a stump.
Mary B.

Ashley Barns

Yep no doubt about it Mary. Daniel is the deadwood carving king. Might be good for you too show a few pics. of his work so Matt can get an idea of 'what could be'. I did try on an earlier post to offer such advice.

Ash

M.B.

O.k., but give me a little time. The pics are still in my camera and I'm dealing with big changes in shifts at work, which makes life a little discomboobertated.
Mary B.

Mattbonsai

Hi.

Please get those pics up asap Mary, they will be very interesting. I still have work to do on the deadwood, but I've been 200 miles away from this tree up until septermber, and then I've been tied down with work and re-designing the whole garden I haven't got round to it. Now its all under a foot of snow and at about -13oC.

Advice is always taken in, and never ignored, if its not followed theres normally a reason

Cheers

-Matt-

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M.B.

O.K. boys, here's a few pics of deadwood that Dan Robinson put out for examples for his workshop students. He said he worked them all. I think he said they were straight pieces of wood he found in the forest. One thing he stressed most of all is "do not follow the grain"! Most people do this naturally but grains in the wood are usually straight, which isn't the effect you want. You have to make the movement and undulations in the wood with your tool. He recommends practicing on some other chunks of wood first before you start on the tree you want to carve to get an idea how to do it. Especially if you don't use the power tool very often. Better to mess up a piece of firewood than your tree.

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	D.Robinson deadwood 1.jpg (52.8 KB, 9 views)
	D.Robinson deadwood 2.jpg (61.3 KB, 11 views)
	D.Robinson deadwood 3.jpg (58.5 KB, 10 views)

M.B.

A few more.

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	D.Robinson deadwood 4.jpg (59.2 KB, 8 views)
	D.Robinson deadwood 5.jpg (56.1 KB, 7 views)
	D.Robinson deadwood 6.jpg (52.2 KB, 10 views)

M.B.

And THE MAN himself ready with his Makita. Sorry it's not a better pic than a side view.
He uses a round tipped router bit to carve. I wish he lived closer to me. I wouldn't mind taking a few workshops with him. He's a real no nonsense kind of guy. A bit of a rebel against convetional bonsai rules but I think his results speak for themselves.
There, are you happy now, Matt?
Mary B.

Attached Images

D.Robinson tool in hand.jpg (62.3 KB, 15 views)

Sruhl

I like the pot but I think the deadwood is a little featureless at the moment and something needs to be done to give it some more style for lack of a better term. I liked the shape of the slight branching before you cut that off, but I agree that it was too big. Maybe hollow it out a little bit or something? I don't think it should be as eccentric as you would do on a juniper, but it still needs a bit more character.

Oops, didn't see the second page before I replied. I hope this is still helpful.

Ashley Barns

Many thanks Mary for giving us a glimpse of how Daniel performs his magic.

Does that help you Matt? I see the 'carved' deadwood as an accessory to the live material An enhancement if you like. Good luck with the tree mate!

Ash