Post by theladysabine on Apr 15, 2006 19:49:35 GMT -5
(Originally posted on BonsaiTalk.com, but very helpful for newer learners... was posted after the Design Concepts thread)
I posted a resource for basic design concepts that you can try to get ahold of... but I'll give a go at what I've picked up from the book. So let's have an understanding first off that I am being a parrot, not a person with loads of experiance who can guide you down the path to better bonsai. But what the heck if the blind lead the blind we'll at least look funny along the way.
The easiest way to explaine this is by knowing the asthetic quality of the tree.
Masculine trees being generally wider, heavier, and more knarled looking trees, with sharp movement and spikey foliage. They tend to be bold and speak of strength and age.
Feminine trees are generally slender, have smoother bark, gentle curves and have rounded foliage. A tree that is light and airy. They tend to be more elegant trees which speak grace and beauty to your heart.
Pots can be classified as easily into masculine and feminine qualities.
Thicker walled, rectangled edges with simplifed decoration or none at all speak of a masculine asthetic. They tend to be unglazed and be darker earthy colors, however the glazed ones will generally be a darker color.. A good many of the pots you see a japanese black pine in are good examples of a masculine pot. They can have heavy wide feet and top and bottom rails to add that sense of strength and weight.
Thinner walls, soft curves, rounded edges, and hightened decoration speak of a feminine asthetic. They tend to be glazed in softer colors like creams and soft greens. Their decorative elements will be much more detailed to give it a delicate feel. The feet may be adorned with cloud patterns but they will be smaller to lend the sense of lightness and grace.
Now if the tree has seasonal color you will want to do as Rock suggested and pick a glazed pot to compliment the showy colors that will come. But you can still use the theories I talked about to define which type of pot to start with.
And of course bunjin and cascades have a few different theorys due to the specific nature of the style. For example you need a good deal of visiual weight to balance a cascade which will be defined by the type and asthetic quality of the cascade itself. And a bunjin is out in it's own direction, but again it's the idea of visual weight and balance.
Sooooo all that being said.
Look at your tree, determine the asthetic quality of it and you'll at least have a place to start from. Mind you a good many trees will fall somewhere between these two definitions. At which point this is where artistry comes in and you decide which character points you want to bring out by the quality of the pot.
Good luck....
(phew I'm tired... lol)
Kindest Regards,
I posted a resource for basic design concepts that you can try to get ahold of... but I'll give a go at what I've picked up from the book. So let's have an understanding first off that I am being a parrot, not a person with loads of experiance who can guide you down the path to better bonsai. But what the heck if the blind lead the blind we'll at least look funny along the way.
The easiest way to explaine this is by knowing the asthetic quality of the tree.
Masculine trees being generally wider, heavier, and more knarled looking trees, with sharp movement and spikey foliage. They tend to be bold and speak of strength and age.
Feminine trees are generally slender, have smoother bark, gentle curves and have rounded foliage. A tree that is light and airy. They tend to be more elegant trees which speak grace and beauty to your heart.
Pots can be classified as easily into masculine and feminine qualities.
Thicker walled, rectangled edges with simplifed decoration or none at all speak of a masculine asthetic. They tend to be unglazed and be darker earthy colors, however the glazed ones will generally be a darker color.. A good many of the pots you see a japanese black pine in are good examples of a masculine pot. They can have heavy wide feet and top and bottom rails to add that sense of strength and weight.
Thinner walls, soft curves, rounded edges, and hightened decoration speak of a feminine asthetic. They tend to be glazed in softer colors like creams and soft greens. Their decorative elements will be much more detailed to give it a delicate feel. The feet may be adorned with cloud patterns but they will be smaller to lend the sense of lightness and grace.
Now if the tree has seasonal color you will want to do as Rock suggested and pick a glazed pot to compliment the showy colors that will come. But you can still use the theories I talked about to define which type of pot to start with.
And of course bunjin and cascades have a few different theorys due to the specific nature of the style. For example you need a good deal of visiual weight to balance a cascade which will be defined by the type and asthetic quality of the cascade itself. And a bunjin is out in it's own direction, but again it's the idea of visual weight and balance.
Sooooo all that being said.
Look at your tree, determine the asthetic quality of it and you'll at least have a place to start from. Mind you a good many trees will fall somewhere between these two definitions. At which point this is where artistry comes in and you decide which character points you want to bring out by the quality of the pot.
Good luck....
(phew I'm tired... lol)
Kindest Regards,
