Final Exam - Western Juniper

摘要

On October 31st, 2009,1 completed the Bonsai Intensive program with Boon Manakitivipart. The Bonsai Intensive program is a three year course covering a variety of techniques from beginner to advanced. Topics such as proper repotting, wiring, grafting,advanced bending, styling, and formal display are covered in the program. My final project was to style a Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis var. occidentalis). I began work on this tree back in late May of that year. The Intensive students were first tasked with finding a front, and the one shown here is what was finally chosen (Figure 2). The tree was placed on a turntable and the students each got to pick 1 or more possible fronts. From there they were to draw their proposed design solutions. Once everyone was finished, the solutions were discussed within the group and Boon described his vision of the tree. As the students progressed through the Intensive Series, their dcro^ns became better and better.