I was thinking,I grew up attending and standing in majestic awe of the Brooklyn botanical bonsai, does anyone know if they would want help there at all!? Legit, that would be a dream come true...

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Can you get in touch with Mr.William Valavanis, he is a member here and can tell you where to get a teacher.

Also I don't know how active Mr. Chase Rosade is, but I believe he is in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.

Both are extremely experienced men of Bonsai.
Good Day
Anthony

* Can you borrow a copy of the Classical Bonsai of Japan, from the Library and see if that is the way you wish to go ?

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Bonsai-Japan-Nippon-Association/dp/4770029926/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380960271&sr=8-1&keywords=classical+bonsai+of+Japan

Or the work of Hu Yunhua,

http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Penjing-Hu-Yunhua/dp/0881920835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380960325&sr=8-1&keywords=Hu+Yunhua

This will give you a choice - Japanese or Chinese ?

Anthony, I think I like both styles for different reasons, in penjing the focus is not on the tree but on the composition as a whole, am I understanding it correctly? Also, it seems that penjing trees are not wired ever just clip and grow? I will contact valavanis, I have his email from looking into chojubai a few months back. I would think that he might not be inclined to speak with me given that he has no idea of who I am, my skill level, or my dedication.

Sorce, that has to be the funniest video I've ever seen in bonsai, and the funniest I've seen period in months. I especially like Bjorn s grill piece, and the awesome irreverence with which Owen set that broom down, he really set that on the ground! Very informative thank you! seriously I've watched almost every single one of Owen and Bjorn's  video series, including there NYC cribs special!

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Bill V is a member here and checks in with some degree of regularity.  You can probably PM him here.

PLEASEEE HELPPPPP MEEEEEE!!

You might be better off starting a new thread.  Spend time detailing the specifics as well, like what kind of tree you have and where its located.

I wanted to clarify the type of teaching I'm looking for, this really shows the type of stuff I am afraid to try without watching someone do it in the flesh. I show this because a picture is worth a thousand words, so this video = a million words?

I have had people telling me to join a club and buy bonsai books and I know they mean well but I have done all this and still haven't found out what I would like to know. I have learned however, that not everyone can do this type of work and that some bonsai people (the ones I know from my club) are more masters of patience and clip and grow, and not able to perform such type of work. But I truly feel as if I need to watch and learn while someone does work like this.

I mean, can I really watch this on video and hear the sound they listen for when the branch begins to break? Can I count the layers of raffia and vet-tape that are applied before I start to bend the trunk? What videos even show this type of work in total? What masters can I learn from in my Southern Jersey area that can teach me this kind of work?

Well, while I appreciate the questions, the answers are pretty easy. Travel to where that kind of work is done. But the next question is why would you want to? I appreciate that the final image gives a pleasant appearance, the massive looping and bending to shorten branches will not give you a sustainable bonsai tree in the long run. Better solutions, for the long run would have been to graft and grow the branches out as needed. That is the way that will give you a more refined and manageable future. But, all the whirling and heavy bending is fun to watch. A good way to learn how to do this type of work is to get yourself in the position to go to where this work is done and get trained . But it all takes some patience.

Interesting point of view John.  Doesn't the exc. bending also lend itself to a tree that's had to work to survive/hardship?  Grafted branches I agree would be more refined...but is this what this tree needs given it's 'wild' nature?  Just asking...

Well, while I appreciate the questions, the answers are pretty easy. Travel to where that kind of work is done. But the next question is why would you want to? I appreciate that the final image gives a pleasant appearance, the massive looping and bending to shorten branches will not give you a sustainable bonsai tree in the long run. Better solutions, for the long run would have been to graft and grow the branches out as needed. That is the way that will give you a more refined and manageable future. But, all the whirling and heavy bending is fun to watch. A good way to learn how to do this type of work is to get yourself in the position to go to where this work is done and get trained . But it all takes some patience.

John what your saying is definitely an eye opener for me.

 I agree, twisty branches with a straight trunk is something definitely outside my design mindset.

In response to your patience comment, I think I have patience :/  but I like to think of it as directionalized patience. If I feel comfortable that the work that could be done/needed to be done was done and I needed to wait, I would wait like a stone.

 I have never heard that this strategy is an unsustainable design. I have seen so so many videos on strategy like this, I never dreamed professionals would do this just to charm the crowd.

I appreciate the advice, put yourself in a position to be where the learning happens. I guess that's what I'm trying to do, by asking these questions I have three names to contact now looking for teachers. Well two really, I reached out to one, but got no response from them.



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