A moment of 'clarity'
That's what true alcoholics call it...when, suddenly, in a drunken moment you see the truth of something.
I've been working on this tree for a little over a year and was doing my styling 'around the corner'. Today I experienced my 'moment' and actually 'saw' the tree the way it was to be. Spent about half an hour re-potting it but like what I finally see.
![[image]](images/uploaded/200912220324214b3082350b836.jpg)
About a year ago after a day of work.
![[image]](images/uploaded/200912220339034b3085a7d51d0.jpg)
The year-long mistake.
![[image]](images/uploaded/200912220347144b3087927bf71.jpg)
Hmmmmmmm??
Bob
A moment of 'clarity'
Hmmmmm !! The subtlest of changes, slight twists or turns, repositioning in the pot - any of these can create a different 'view'. Clarity. I am intrigued by the face-like image in the dark stone you've placed at the base. It's a bit haunting, yet fresh. I'm guessing that Nick Lenz would have, somehow, incorporated it into the large hollow area on the left side. But it is wonderful.
A moment of 'clarity'
Nice tree Bob....What kind ?
Just for the sake of argument, what would it look like if the top was lowered down to the next branch ? That long straight section kind of sticks out, and in my opinion, should be worked with, or if not possible, consider removal. Anybody out there who can do a virtual ?... now would be a good time. Having said that, I like the trunk line, overall design is good, and it's a real eye catcher.
Keep up the good work.
A moment of 'clarity'
Being new at this and struggling to develop my "mature bonsai vision", I find the discussions about training and shaping very valuable. Please help me by letting me try to build on Jon's suggestion and invite you to give me feedback to help me learn.
Bob, and others, what if the tree was tilted back to the left about 15-20 degrees so that the knob on the root at left was at soil level? At this angle, the trunk would be less vertical and the branch in the crown that Jon is referring to would come into balance so that a plumb through the crown would fall in the center of the base of the trunk.
Bob is seeing this tree all around and I'm only considering the angle in the pic, sooo. In the interest of learning, I'd really appreciate feed back on my vision.
A moment of 'clarity'
by Ron 
, Thursday, December 31, 2009, 13:22 (250 days ago) @ dougwhitfield
Bob, and others, what if the tree was tilted back to the left about 15-20 degrees so that the knob on the root at left was at soil level?
My two cents:
That's a very shallow pot. In order to place the knob at soil level much of the tree's bottom would have to be removed. Or, keeping the tree's bottom, it would have to be placed into a deeper pot and you would lose much of the visual impact.
The proposed tilt would probably be a multi-year, little-bit-at-a-time project.
Ron