Right here’s a tree that Carmen Leskoviansky, my apprentice, labored on.
Carmen has been right here for 2 years now. Previous to that she was a really quiet Seasonal pupil. She isn’t anymore. Every day I hear the animal report—the newest in regards to the crows she’s befriended (her favourite present from them was a dime), the rabbit nibbling the quince within the yard (!), and the raccoon escapades. In between all that she has time for her household and wiring lots of bonsai.
This Scots Pine was Carmen’s newest venture. The pine got here from Teleperion Farms. Photograph is from a latest repotting.
The identical pine throughout one other work session, after pruning. It’s been wired, however the branches aren’t set but. This second wiring—it was wired for the primary time just a few years in the past—will finalize the design.
And after setting the branches.
Good job, Carmen!
I typically get requested how apprentices study. The work typically seems to progress backwards—with the apprentice sustaining and wiring absolutely developed bonsai within the first yr, and solely progressing to extra uncooked inventory of their second and third years. Realizing the place to go together with the uncooked inventory springs, oddly sufficient, from repetitive work on completed timber.
Apprentices end a tree to one of the best of their capacity, then we talk about methods to enhance approach and design, if any. With this Scots Pine, these ideas have been being bolder with pruning and placing stronger curves into the branches to shorten them. However in contrast to with newer apprentices, I didn’t contact this tree.
On the charge Carmen goes we’ll run out of timber right here. If that occurs I’m hoping she’ll rewire {the electrical} within the studio. All the time been a bit off.
