[Craig] - Melaleuca Preissiana

[Craig]

Species Melaleuca Preissiana

Height 300mm , 60mm base

Where from collected from bush

Cost $0







This is roughly where i'll be heading,

[Dario]

Hi Craig, nice material indeed! Like the design too, and it looks like a very realistic/doable outcome for the comp as it is pretty much already there...good choice mate!
Look forward to seeing the apex and branching develop through the comp.
Good luck, Dario.

[Craig]

Thanks Dario

[Roger]

Nice one Craig. Good sketch of where you want to go.
I wonder if you considered styling outside the triangle? What you've shown is classic, but not overyly imaginative

Roger

[Dario]

Hi Roger, could you please offer an alternative sketch that you consider to be imaginative with this material based on your experience and understanding of this species...obviously something that can be achieved within the time line for the comp?
This is a genuine request to learn, and not having a go as it is not my position too...just very curious as to how you would approach this material Roger.
I like the sketch and consider it to be realistic for the comp's time frame...Roger as you said...classic.
Craig I hope you don't consider my request of Roger to be offensive, and also hope this is not getting side tracked from your entry!
Always looking to learn, and once again no offence intended to either of you Roger and Craig!!
Thank you, Dario.

[Craig]

please don't post any virts or sketches of other peoples trees , thanks guys,
Roger, this was just a quick drawing, how far outside the triangle should i be thinking ?.

[Dario]

OOPS!! Very sorry!!
Dario.

[Craig]

no worries Dario, great to see you so keen mate,


Maybe i could go in this sort of direction, sort of a fallen tree raft style..

shohin3.jpg

[Roger]

Dario - no worries. No offence taken. Penetrating, respectful discussion is always welcome.

Craig, I shan't make suggestions as specific as drawings ... wouldn't be proper for the comp.

How far outside the triangle ... once you are out, the only limits are your imagination and your stamina - it can be both exhilarating and challenging. I like your second drawing. It begs to tell a story. Crowns are good. It should be as achievable in the competition time as your first drawing.

Take a look at Google/images for Melaleuca preissiana - there are quite a few excellent habitat shots of different shapes of mature trees. I don't argue that one must only follow what a species looks like in nature, rather, with such little use of trees in nature in Oz when contemplating bonsai, there is an enormously rich source of inspiration, that also has resonances with a species. Becoming sensitive to what species look like and how they differ from one place to another and from species to species can only broaden and deepen the extent of tools and inspirations the bonsai artist can call upon.

Roger

[Craig]

Thanks Roger, i appreciate your thoughts, Thankyou

[Craig]

working with my original idea, a little virt of what it may look like

virt2.JPG

[LLK]

Take a look at Google/images for Melaleuca preissiana - there are quite a few excellent habitat shots of different shapes of mature trees. I don't argue that one must only follow what a species looks like in nature, rather, with such little use of trees in nature in Oz when contemplating bonsai, there is an enormously rich source of inspiration, that also has resonances with a species. Becoming sensitive to what species look like and how they differ from one place to another and from species to species can only broaden and deepen the extent of tools and inspirations the bonsai artist can call upon.

Roger

Indeed, there are quite a few photos of this Melaleuca, in which it most often is quite reminiscent of a 'typical' Eucalypt. This is what I mean: see http://www.flickr.com/photos/westflora/3179327748/ Perhaps this should be considered as "the" Australian style, in the way the flat-top is South African?
In the bush one can sometimes see native shrubs or trees that have a distinctive appearance, one that may suggest a bonsai, but that isn't sure to happen with all the species that we acquire with a wish to shape them as bonsai. Then again, one is sometimes lucky to find an isolated shrub or tree in a garden, that can be quite inspiring.... I remember especially an old Grevillea in someone's front yard, that I would love to reproduce as a bonsai. And I wonder why the natives-loving bonsai artist-owner never did.

Lisa

[Craig]

Thanks, Lisa that tree in your link is still very young and by no means would i consider it a Mature preissiana, in fact i have seen many mature preissiana in my local area, Yes i do know what they look like , Yes i do know how they grow when young ,Yes i do know how they grow when very old The tree in your link i would not consider a great example, and there are not alot of good pictures of Preissiana on the net, i have spent hours looking, please post some links,,..

Indeed, there are quite a few photos of this Melaleuca

24418418.jpg

Melaleuca_preissiana_-E.jpg

[nealweb]

working with my original idea, a little virt of what it may look like

virt2.JPG

I really like this one!!!

[LLK]

....in fact i have seen many mature preissiana in my local area, Yes i do know what they look like , Yes i do know how they grow when young ,Yes i do know how they grow when very old

Sorry, Craig, if I seemed to doubt your knowledge of this tree. I just wanted to tell Roger how difficult it is in general to translate into bonsai a tree we don't know. If I were given a M. preissiana l wouldn't have a clue on how to evoke that tree in the wild, with the photos I've seen on the Internet being no help. I like your second virtual and wish you good luck!

Lisa