Two beautiful designs - I certainly couldn't choose one over the other, especially considering that the tree offered such different foliage the second time. Maeoka-san's style is so finessed, so elegant, graceful and airy; it seems to emphasize the flowing curves of the trunk. Bjorn's approach to the foliage is soft and natural, the jin adding some age and along with the shift in movement I focus more on the changes in direction of the trunk which seem to describe how the tree has survived in the environment. Two masters. Great video.
Thank you Bjorn for what you do. I look forward to each video you come out with and enjoy learning from you. I love both designs and enjoyed watching the evolution of the tree from one design to another and one artist to the next. They both have wonderful qualities to enjoy.
I like both! It's good to see how the same tree can have different designs over the years. Reminds you that it's a living, breathing thing, not just an 'ornament'
Prior design shape was very good. I like how you used what grew/changed and redesigned/styled it into a beauty. Love the, as is said, the feature of negative space. I always learn and am inspired by your bonsai videos. Thank you.
A beautiful tree. Enhanced even more by this recent styling. A top end work of art. Thanks for bringing this to us. I will now go back and watch this again. Cheers
Amazing transformation. You take the first design in your mind with a lot of respect, for Naoki Maeoka. This tree needs to be reshape, for his health. But we all can see the the homage to the first designer, when the tree is finished ! (((never! ))) Thank you Bjorn , for spending time with us in France, for your advices, and patience, hope to see you soon !
Very impressive! Inspirational acutally. I didn't realize that a tree could be redesigned within such a short period of time. I always imagined many years before reworking one. This video was superb.
I was given au unwanted Jack Pine last Autumn by a gardening friend. I am beginning to style it as a semi-cascade. Your styling commentary in this video was very helpful for that. Thanks.
Great exercise in the importance of flexibility On initial reflection for me: 1st styling: came across as applied artisanship, beautiful design use of existing (foliage) material. I felt it brought “youthfulness/ youthful eternity” to an aged tree 2nd style: I think has more development to go yet, but I’m warming to it, I kinda looked initially like a traditional peasants’ stick-and-sack travelling kit, like a fishing rod with a “travel sack”, but I’m warming to it, I’m trying to find the “new story”
Very good restyling Bjorn 👌 I prefer this styling, it's more appropriate regarding the vertical mouvement of the trunk. I like your Sahi-eda and the head is very well placed 👍
Thanks Bjorn, another excellent video and I will be looking forward to seeing it in 12 months. Additionally, great information concerning the overall design and getting away from the "perfect" triangle shape with irregular pads and negative space to give a more naturalistic product. Nanxi and you keep safe and post some more pictures of the dog so we cn also see him develop.
Video muy interesante. La evolución desde el primer diseño hace que se hayan tenido que tomar decisiones nuevas..... El primer diseño, más compacto y minimalista se aleja bastante de este, más naturalista. Los dos son indiscutiblemente buenos. La calidad del video es impresionante. Gracias por compartir.
Hey Bjorn, I remember a Video wehre you and Naoki where on an Exhibition, dont know where it was, maybe the Kokufu in your time at kouka-en. You both had to set up some Trees and it was really early in the morning and you asked Naoki about his best Tree on the Exhibition. It was a really thin nice literati styled tree. It showed a lot about his way to see the beauty in trees and maybe it fits to his character, dont know him but for me it was a great example how different the feeling of esthetic can be. I liked the way he styled the juniper before, but maybe it had less brnaching in the backround. The new Styling is also really nice and i like your way to give trees more threedimensional flow in the branches and the variation with negative spaces. Its the way how the naturalistic habitus make sense for me and what you see in nature. You and Michael Hagedorn or David Benavente do it in a really nice way. Dont know if the Jin down on the right side could be removed, but maybe you sit down another evening with a Glass of Gin :) and think about it. But as always....really great work Bjorn!!! Its always lovely to watch your stuff. go on with it, stay tight...cheers from Germany!!!
You are such a great artist.I admire your style.The tree become pure perfection, so well balanced. The golden ratio can be found in each section of the whole design.
A very well done video! Of course your bonsai skills and artistry are well honed, but I have to say your teaching and production skills are much improved! This is a much better video than your previous restyling video. Please continue to teach and promote bonsai. I favor a more natural style. Both styles are well done, different styles. I always try to tell a story with my work.
Nicely executed design. Seems to me that you could eliminate most of that jin at the very top. While it frames the foliage well, it also pulls the eye away from the elliptical shape of the composition as a whole Kudos also on the quality of your videos and the comprehensive nature of your narrative Thank you
Nice job Bjorn. I like both stylings, but yours seems more suited to the species, where Naoki's works better for a fuller Japanese style Shimpaku. It looked great, but I think that the trend over the last few decades in Japan, perhaps led by Kokufu trees, of overly full 'helmet' top conifers doesn't suit American species that well. It looks like both you and Ryan Neil understand that pretty well, and this tree shows off a minimalist character of American yamadori.
Hej Björn, thank you very much for this video. I was wondering if you can make a video about how you handle your bonsai seedlings when they are three or four years old (which is the time I usually screw things up with my bonsais intended design). For example maybe a part three of your very good video of the Japanese maple seedlings?
I think there is a visual conflict between the line of the Jin going back in toward the trunk and the cascading branch extending down to the left , but that it will resolve itself if the branch on the left grows and extends down further, so that the two lines are not so equally balanced.
Really nice video, both content and cinematic wise. Like the end result, fresh and elegant. Makes me wonder however. Is there some sort of etiquette between bonsai artists when they work on a tree after eachother. And if so, could you explain this and if there are regional differences to your knowledge?
Oh Bjorn, I love it when you use technical terms like crotch growth and finangle 😁. Seriously though I do like your new style. I like how the foliage is almost trying to reach back up to the light from the bottom. Ps. It's May now in Ireland, have I left it too late to try to air layer a juniper?
Bottom right deadwood of the foliage looks like root-growth reaching back towards the soil. Almost as if the old man is reaching back towards his youth along the trunk line for a rejuvenation. This variation has much more appeal to the viewer IMO.
Nice Work Bjorn. I like the other branch more into the main trunk so there be no space to take eyes away from trunk and green branches. But that why you make the big Bucks.lol Greg of Ohio
May I know, just for the sake of academic discussion as we often encounter this situation, this tree is designed applying the features of Literati, however this one does not fall into such style obviously because of the trunk... can we classify this as slanting style? Or do we have more specific classification for this? Thank you!
Thank you all for your input and comments about the design! Please consider helping out Bonsai-U by donating at bjornbjorholm.com/donate/
Lovely. You whipped that unruly scamp right back into shape. It is now perfect, until the next iteration.
Two beautiful designs - I certainly couldn't choose one over the other, especially considering that the tree offered such different foliage the second time. Maeoka-san's style is so finessed, so elegant, graceful and airy; it seems to emphasize the flowing curves of the trunk. Bjorn's approach to the foliage is soft and natural, the jin adding some age and along with the shift in movement I focus more on the changes in direction of the trunk which seem to describe how the tree has survived in the environment. Two masters. Great video.
Naoki's version was cool ... but this seems more natural for me & my eye! Love to see it next year ...
Thank you Bjorn for what you do. I look forward to each video you come out with and enjoy learning from you. I love both designs and enjoyed watching the evolution of the tree from one design to another and one artist to the next. They both have wonderful qualities to enjoy.
I like both! It's good to see how the same tree can have different designs over the years. Reminds you that it's a living, breathing thing, not just an 'ornament'
Prior design shape was very good. I like how you used what grew/changed and redesigned/styled it into a beauty. Love the, as is said, the feature of negative space. I always learn and am inspired by your bonsai videos. Thank you.
Your videos are such high quality. An art form within an art form.
Both interpretations are commendable, as they are elegant and dynamic. Thanks for sharing. Simply bonsailicious.
A beautiful tree. Enhanced even more by this recent styling. A top end work of art. Thanks for bringing this to us. I will now go back and watch this again. Cheers
the foliage is like a green cloud floating over an abyss
Amazing transformation.
You take the first design in your mind with a lot of respect, for Naoki Maeoka.
This tree needs to be reshape, for his health.
But we all can see the the homage to the first designer, when the tree is finished ! (((never! )))
Thank you Bjorn , for spending time with us in France,
for your advices, and patience, hope to see you soon !
Very impressive! Inspirational acutally. I didn't realize that a tree could be redesigned within such a short period of time. I always imagined many years before reworking one. This video was superb.
I was given au unwanted Jack Pine last Autumn by a gardening friend. I am beginning to style it as a semi-cascade. Your styling commentary in this video was very helpful for that. Thanks.
It is great to see how different visions can grow from previous designs. Bonsai-U is so comfortable and informative. Keep up the videos!
Great exercise in the importance of flexibility
On initial reflection for me:
1st styling: came across as applied artisanship, beautiful design use of existing (foliage) material. I felt it brought “youthfulness/ youthful eternity” to an aged tree
2nd style: I think has more development to go yet, but I’m warming to it, I kinda looked initially like a traditional peasants’ stick-and-sack travelling kit, like a fishing rod with a “travel sack”, but I’m warming to it, I’m trying to find the “new story”
I love everything about this video all the way down to the music. thank you so much for your demonstration.
Very good restyling Bjorn 👌
I prefer this styling, it's more appropriate regarding the vertical mouvement of the trunk. I like your Sahi-eda and the head is very well placed 👍
Thanks Bjorn, another excellent video and I will be looking forward to seeing it in 12 months. Additionally, great information concerning the overall design and getting away from the "perfect" triangle shape with irregular pads and negative space to give a more naturalistic product.
Nanxi and you keep safe and post some more pictures of the dog so we cn also see him develop.
Nicely done I liked the way that you explained all the process. Thanks for sharing your knowledge 👍👍🇵🇷
A brilliantly educational demonstration. You are a very gifted teacher. Really like the end result. Thank you.
The after styling looks stunning. Great job.
Video muy interesante. La evolución desde el primer diseño hace que se hayan tenido que tomar decisiones nuevas..... El primer diseño, más compacto y minimalista se aleja bastante de este, más naturalista. Los dos son indiscutiblemente buenos. La calidad del video es impresionante. Gracias por compartir.
Hey Bjorn,
I remember a Video wehre you and Naoki where on an Exhibition, dont know where it was, maybe the Kokufu in your time at kouka-en. You both had to set up some Trees and it was really early in the morning and you asked Naoki about his best Tree on the Exhibition. It was a really thin nice literati styled tree. It showed a lot about his way to see the beauty in trees and maybe it fits to his character, dont know him but for me it was a great example how different the feeling of esthetic can be. I liked the way he styled the juniper before, but maybe it had less brnaching in the backround. The new Styling is also really nice and i like your way to give trees more threedimensional flow in the branches and the variation with negative spaces. Its the way how the naturalistic habitus make sense for me and what you see in nature. You and Michael Hagedorn or David Benavente do it in a really nice way. Dont know if the Jin down on the right side could be removed, but maybe you sit down another evening with a Glass of Gin :) and think about it. But as always....really great work Bjorn!!! Its always lovely to watch your stuff. go on with it, stay tight...cheers from Germany!!!
Thanks mate! That's all great commentary, much appreciated!
You are such a great artist.I admire your style.The tree become pure perfection, so well balanced. The golden ratio can be found in each section of the whole design.
Dude................ the home improvement style intro theme SLAPS!!!! have this shit stuck in my head all day!
Wonderful explanation that takes us through your thinking, and amazing vision and talent. Thank you for sharing this
I always learn when I watch your videos. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
Stay safe!
Love it. Especially the softness in the pad bottoms. Love a soft bottom.
I love both versions.
it's way much better now! 👏👏😍
What a legend this guy is! Absolutely awesome bonsai! I learn so much in every video, thank you!
Love the redesign.
A very well done video! Of course your bonsai skills and artistry are well honed, but I have to say your teaching and production skills are much improved! This is a much better video than your previous restyling video. Please continue to teach and promote bonsai. I favor a more natural style. Both styles are well done, different styles. I always try to tell a story with my work.
Love the evolution of this tree
Thank You 🙏✌️
This helps with neglected garden pine I found and took with permission in Big Sur thx chuck
Also Im interested on how one strengthens "leggy brances " in such trees to keep them in place after wire is removed
Great re-design
Very cool , both designs were appropriate for each growth cycle👍😎
Bonjour Bjorm j aime beaucoup ton travail ! C est très équilibré
Nicely executed design.
Seems to me that you could eliminate most of that jin at the very top. While it frames the foliage well, it also pulls the eye away from the elliptical shape of the composition as a whole
Kudos also on the quality of your videos and the comprehensive nature of your narrative
Thank you
Absolutely agree that losing upper jin would strengthen the overall composition.
Nice job Bjorn. I like both stylings, but yours seems more suited to the species, where Naoki's works better for a fuller Japanese style Shimpaku. It looked great, but I think that the trend over the last few decades in Japan, perhaps led by Kokufu trees, of overly full 'helmet' top conifers doesn't suit American species that well. It looks like both you and Ryan Neil understand that pretty well, and this tree shows off a minimalist character of American yamadori.
I love it. Thank you for these videos👍
I think you did a great job and although I liked both designs - this seems the best for the tree's evolution.
Hej Björn, thank you very much for this video. I was wondering if you can make a video about how you handle your bonsai seedlings when they are three or four years old (which is the time I usually screw things up with my bonsais intended design). For example maybe a part three of your very good video of the Japanese maple seedlings?
stunning
Tough to choose. I like both.
Beautiful work. 🙂💚
I think there is a visual conflict between the line of the Jin going back in toward the trunk and the cascading branch extending down to the left , but that it will resolve itself if the branch on the left grows and extends down further, so that the two lines are not so equally balanced.
Thank you
I'm prefer this kind of styling...More natural looking tree.So beautiful.
Pleasant.
Bagus Bjorn! A nice transformation!
That bonsai is amazing 😉
Magnificent tree and magnificent work 👌👌👌👏👏👏👏
Just an Hour and Me the second viewer . . . VERY INFORMATIVE Video. This Bunjin Style is really great! GOOD JOB SIR!👍
nice work mate!
Really nice video, both content and cinematic wise. Like the end result, fresh and elegant.
Makes me wonder however. Is there some sort of etiquette between bonsai artists when they work on a tree after eachother. And if so, could you explain this and if there are regional differences to your knowledge?
Amazing
Thank you.Amazing!
Oh Bjorn, I love it when you use technical terms like crotch growth and finangle 😁.
Seriously though I do like your new style. I like how the foliage is almost trying to reach back up to the light from the bottom.
Ps. It's May now in Ireland, have I left it too late to try to air layer a juniper?
this version is more naturalistic even though Naoki had a strong design also
Very cool!
Very nice brother.
Beautiful,
Bottom right deadwood of the foliage looks like root-growth reaching back towards the soil. Almost as if the old man is reaching back towards his youth along the trunk line for a rejuvenation. This variation has much more appeal to the viewer IMO.
I like both..but i like this style better.😁
one best !!!!!
Yes sir
Awesome!
Love it very much
beautifoll your bonsai tree l love your work bro 😊❤❤❤
great work, ! 👍😀
Amazing!
Nice Work Bjorn. I like the other branch more into the main trunk so there be no space to take eyes away from trunk and green branches. But that why you make the big Bucks.lol Greg of Ohio
17:07 omg I thought I saw a tiny face in the middle of the branches
great work!
Like your design best, has more depth and movement
Thank you For share.your knowledge
Bjorn what's your take on copper vs aluminum wire?
👏👏👏 awesome
May I know, just for the sake of academic discussion as we often encounter this situation, this tree is designed applying the features of Literati, however this one does not fall into such style obviously because of the trunk... can we classify this as slanting style? Or do we have more specific classification for this? Thank you!
bonsai yg sangat istimewa salam dari INDONESIA
I'm kinda confused, is there a time period when a bonsai tree doesn't need wiring anymore?
nice change
oops, I asked too soon. :) Nice job as always!
gracias por el vídeo
Wooow👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Love it 👍
Great vid bruh. Hahaha just kidding. You said you wouldn't classify it as Bunjin. So I'm curious what style you would consider it
The beautiful style!!! 😁👏👏
Cheers, and stay safe everybody!!!
Hans van Meer.
Sensei ni rei.
Bonsai mantab 🙏
gr8 job
Why is size 4 wire bigger than size 8?
when will you be able to remove the support?
I think, it will look more balanced, if you remove the two bottom pads :)
didn't he say he wanted to remove only 20% of the foliage? :D
Uhhhh first time first :D
Anyone else prefer the backside? I think i like it better. The backside of the finished version that is.
Is it just me or does he look like the love child of Chris Pratt and Shaggy?