One more evening of enjoyment; we worked a lot and we learned a lot :-)! I learned how different techniques have different influences on people! When Roland, Miha and I were wiring and were completely calm deeply in our thoughts, Matej and Janez were loudly, energetically and impetuously bending the pine tree. Let's see it a bit closer:  

To je bil še en večer uživancije na drevesih; veliko smo delali in se veliko naučili :-)! Recimo, jaz sem se naučil, kako različne tehnike različno vplivajo na ljudi! Med tem smo Roland, Miha in jaz žičili ter se ob tem popolnoma umirili, poglobljeni vsak v svoj svet, sta se Matej in Janez energično, glasno in vihravo ukvarjala s krivljenjem glavne linije na boru. Ampak poglejmo malce podrobneje:

Roland has concentrated on wiring and shaping primary branches on Carpinus:

Roland se je tokrat poglobil v žičenje in usmerjanje primarnih vej na gabru:

Miha was working on his literati-pine, until the strength leaves :-) :

Miha je ustvarjal na svojem boru v slogu literati, dokler ni obnemogel :-) :

Matej was working on basic line on his Carpinus orientalis and he also gave the movement to the primary branch:

Matej je na Orientalisu določil osnovno linijo in  dal gibanje primarni veji:

Meanwhile Janez has worked on interesting red pine:

Med tem se je Janez v ozadju ukvarjal z zanimivim rdečim borom:

Studying the line:

 

 

Študiranje linije:

At the end three of them were working on the tree :-) :

Na koncu so se nad bor spravili kar trije :-) :

TORA school is exciting place; also Tomaž and Nataša were here for visit. But here are the highlights of yesterday's session: Forming the crown at broad-leaves needs much more time than on conifers. The basic line is very important, we build the crown on that line. Roland's Carpinus betulus is relatively developed. It is growing in Erin's pot, which will be the final, only the position will be a litlle modified. Primary branches are positioned, they were given the movement, now one must grow the secondary and tertiary branches. All in proper ratio and narrowing from trunk toward tips of the branches and from the bottom towards the top of the tree. The tree is too high for now due to thickening of the upper part.

Dogajanje v šoli TORA je še naprej razburljivo; na obisk sta prišla tudi Tomaž in Nataša. Ampak tu je nekaj poudarkov z včerajšnje seanse: Formiranje krošnje pri listavcih zahteva veliko več časa, kot pri iglavcih. Pomembna je osnovna linija, na kateri gradimo krošnjo. Rolandov navadni gaber je v svojem razvoju že relativno daleč. Posajen je v Erinovo posodo, ki bo kar končna, le pozicijo bo treba nekoliko spremeniti. Primarne veje so pozicionirane, dobile so potrebno gibanje, zdaj pride na vrsto razvijanje sekundarnih in terciarnih vej. Vse v razmerju in s primernim ožanjem: od debla proti koncu vej in od spodnjega dela drevesa proti vrhu. Drevo je za zdaj namenoma še nekoliko previsoko zaradi debeljenja zgornjega dela.

Matej's Carpinus orientalis is a real beast. It has a great movement which needs to be supplemented with attractive crown. Compared to Roland's this Carpinus is only at the start of it's bonsai-way. Even the pot is far from final. The basic line was defined, useful branches got the movement, now it's tree's turn - to grow new branches where needed. But with this species this will be no problem. If the tree will not want to participate, we'll help it with grafting.  

 

 

Matejev Carpinus orientalis je prava mrcina. Krasno gibanje, ki ga bo treba dopolniti z atraktivno krošnjo. V primerjavi z Rolandovim je ta gaber še čisto na začetku svoje poti. Tudi posoda seveda še zdaleč ni končna. Določena je bila osnovna linija, uporabne veje so dobile potrebno gibanje, zdaj pride na vrsto drevo - da požene nove poganjke tam, kjer jih potrebujemo. Pri tej vrsti to ne bo težava. Če pa drevo ne bo hotelo sodelovati, si bomo pomagali s cepljenjem. 

Miha's literati-pine will be finished at the next session and will get almost final shape. Janez's pine just got the basic line and will wait until the end of the summer for next step.

Mihatov literati bor bomo dokončali na naslednji seansi in bo dobil že skoraj dokončno podobo, Janezov bor pa je dobil zgolj osnovno linijo in bo nadaljevanje svoje zgodbe doživel konec poletja.

P.S.: Good luck on your Way, Raje!

P.S.: Raje, srečno na Poti!

ANA IN OSTALI

14 hours of bonsaism? Why not! Instead of tiredness at the evening I felt only fulfillment and nice energy. More such days, please!

In the morning Ana came in for basic workshop. She'll get an olive tree for the present in the spring. She decided to came in school before, because she don't want to kill her gift. See, this is the right way! Bravo Ana! She got information how to grow the olive, on the red pine she learned basic techniques. I am sure that gift will survive this time!

14 ur bonsajizma? Zakaj pa ne! In namesto utrujenosti sem zvečer čutil zgolj izpolnjenost in prijetno energijo. Še več takih dni, prosim!

Dopoldne je na začetni tečaj prišla Ana. Spomladi bo za darilo dobila oljko; ko je zvedela za to, se je takoj odločila za šolanje, saj noče, da bi ji darilo neslavno propadlo. Vidite, tako se dela! Bravo Ana! Dobila je napotke o vzgoji oljke, na rdečem boru pa je spoznala osnovne tehnike oblikovanja. Prepričan sem, da bo darilo tokrat preživelo!

In the afternoon the TORA group of students who are included in to intensive school gathered at regular weekly workshop. Miha did a step forward with his Fagus. It is a non-classical bonsai, full of character, slowly getting its form. Because forming of the crown at broadleaved tress is slower then at conifers, Fagus needs some more years to fully developed stage, but it did a great step forward since the first shaping two years ago. The time runs slowly at broadleaved trees. With Miha we focused at right wiring technique. One must be careful wiring the Fagus, because its buds can easily be opened by touching them. And because Fragus starts its buds just once in the year this can be even fatal for the tree.

Popoldne se je na svoji redni tedenski seansi v delavnici spet zbrala ožja TORA skupina študentov, ki so vključeni v intenzivni program šolanja. Miha je napravil korak naprej pri razvoju svoje bukve. Gre za neklasičen bonsaj, poln karakterja, ki počasi dobiva zaželjeno formo. Ker pri listavcih graditev krošnje traja veliko dlje, kot pri iglavcih, ji do končne podobe sicer manjka še nekaj let, toda od prvega oblikovanja, ki ga je bukev prav tako doživela v Tori pred dvema letoma, je napravila lep korak naprej. Ampak to je še en dokaz, kako pri listavcih čas teče počasi. Z Mihom sva dala poudarek na pravilni tehniki žičenja; pri bukvi je potrebno biti zelo previden, saj se brsi ob dotiku kaj hitro razprejo in zaradi izsušitve lahko propadejo. Ker pa bukev brste nastavlja samo enkrat, je to lahko za drevo tudi usodno.

Fagus after first shaping in december 2009

Yesterday before starting the work

After the work

Slovenian new talent Roland, who is preparing in Tora for NTC, finaly finished his cascade Juniper after three workshops. Last time we ended at forming the basic line, this time Roland worked at crown-forming. Matej helped him with wiring. Roland was very concentrated, some minor corrections (we can not forget the negative space, can we Roland) and new cascade beauty is born. There is no doubt that Roland will developed this beauty in to nice bonsai. Now is time for very important second stage: pinching, dealing with details and maintenance. The current result is just a good starting point for a serious work on the tree.

Slovenski novi talent Roland, ki se v Tori pripravlja na nastop na NTC, je po treh delavnicah dokončal svoj kaskadni brin. Zadnjič smo končali pri oblikovanju osnovne linije, tokrat je Roland delal na oblikovanju krošnje. Pri žičenju mu je pomagal Matej. Roland je delo opravil z veliko zbranostjo, sledilo je še nekaj popravkov (na prazen prostor nikakor ne smemo pozabiti, a ne Roland) in nova kskadna lepotica je tu. Nobenega dvoma ni, da jo bo Roland s svojo predanostjo znal razviti v lep bonsaj. Zdaj namreč pride na vrsto zelo pomembna druga faza: vršičkanje, ukvarjanje s podrobnostmi in vzdrževanje. Zdajšnji rezultat je zgolj dobro izhodišče za začetek resnega dela na drevesu.

PAR

New students are arriving, knowledge about bonsai is spreading. This is one of the basic missions of every bonsai-artist. This time Tatjana in Tomaž came in. Tatjana met the classical bonsai for the first time. She has one or two Ficus trees at home, but now she wanted to meet the "real" bonsai-art and to learn the basic techniques. Tatjana showed a great talent for wiring, she quickly learned the basic principles of wiring and she done her work excellently.

Novi učenci prihajajo, znanje o bonsaju se širi. To je eno od osnovnih poslanstev vsakega bonsajista. Tokrat sta na začetni tečaj prišla Tatjana in Tomaž. Tatjana se je s klasičnim bonsajem srečala prvič; doma ima sicer nekaj fikusov, toda zdaj si je zaželela spoznati "pravi" bonsajizem in spoznati osnovne tehnike. Tatjana je pokazala izjemen talent za žičenje, saj je princip žičenja kmalu dojela in delo opravila z odliko.

Tomaž has one Larix at home before, but because he didn't have enough knowledge the tree died. Now he takes the right way: first knowledge and then he will try to do it by himself. Because of lack of space he decided to work only with shohin bonsai. Nice - in Slovenia we don't have yet the specialist who will grow only the small trees. I had the right Larix for him - compact crown, a lot of dead wood. When working on bonsai you can not hurry. So, Tomaž came back to workshop at the evening. He realized that the tree is the boss. If the tree doesn't allow something, then it is so. We must adjust our plans with it!

Tomaž je doma že imel macesen, a mu je zaradi premalo znanja propadel. Zdaj se je odločil za pravilno pot: najprej nabiranje znanja, potem pa samostojni poskusi. Zaradi pomanjkanja prostora se je že vnaprej odločil, da se bo ukvarjal z šohini. Odlično - v Sloveniji še nimamo specialista, ki bi se ukvarjal samo z majhnimi derevsci. Na zalogi sem imel ravno pravšnji macesen - kompaktna krošnja, veliko suhega lesa. Ker se pri ukvarjanju z drevesom nikoli ne sme muditi, se je Tomaž v delavnico vrnil zvečer. Spoznal je, da ima drevo vedno zadnjo besedo. Če nečesa ne dovoli, pač ne dovoli. In naše načrte z njim je treba prilagoditi!

P.S.: If you want to book the lesion in TORA (basic or advanced workshop, long-term school) just call, also afternoon or evening lesions are available!

P.S.: Za rezerviranje terminov v šoli TORA (začetni in nadaljevalni tečaji, večmesečno šolanje) pokličite, možni so tudi popoldanski in večerni termini! 

KARAVANA GRE DALJE

Obviously, Wednesdays will become traditional days for sessions of TORA students. Last night we concentrated at two trees - Roland's juniper, his training material for NTC got nice basic line (cascade again :-) ), Miha worked on shari at his Chamaecyparis. 

Srede bodo očitno postale tradicionalni termin za srečanja skupine študentov v TORA. Sinoči smo se posvetili dvem drevesom - Rolandov brin, ki je trening materijal za pripravo na NTC, je dobil lepo osnovno linijo (ja, spet kaskada :-) ), Miha pa se je posvetil obdelavi šarija na pacipresi.

Roland's juniper has developed from bush to promising cascade material in just two sessions. As Roland pointed out: searching for and creating the basic line on the tree is the most important and needs time. From here shaping bonsai is just routine.  

Rolandov brin je po dveh delavnicah iz neuglednega grma napredoval v materijal, ki že kaže, da lahko iz njega nastane lepa kaskada. Kot je ugotovil Roland sam: iskanju in kreiranju osnovne linije na drevesu se splača posvetiti veliko časa. Od tu naprej je formiranje bonsaja zgolj rutina.

The basic line is set. From now on shaping is just a routine

Miha created a nice shari on his Chamaecyparis. He used the "shadow" technique. He was on fire! :-) Tomaž came in for inspection and he was obviously satisfied with result. Chamaecyparis will be wired and shaped in next sessions, and then it will be ready for exhibition.

Miha je s t.i. tehniko senc izdelal prepričljiv šari na svoji pacipresi. Tako zavzeto je delal, da se je kar kadilo! :-) V inšpekcijo je prišel tudi Tomaž in bil z rezultatom očitno zadovoljen! Pacipreso zdaj čaka podrobno žičenje in oblikovanje in pripravljena bo na razstavljanje.

He was on fire ...

 

P.S.: Used techniques: heavy bending with rafia and lever, fixing on extra rod, machine work on shari using "shadow technique.

P.S.: Uporabljene tehnike: močno krivljenje s pomočjo rafije in pomožnega vzvoda, fiksiranje na pomožno palico, strojno obdelovanje šarija s tehniko senc.

INTENZIVNO

Last night session with TORA group was obviously so intensive, that I forgot to take pictures. So, I can show you only the little Larix, Janez finished it yesterday. Photo is from this morning. Larix is nothing special, but is great material for learning. Janez was working mainly on wiring, because the tree has nice structure of branches. With smaller branches it was possible to build a compact and convincing crown. Janez did a good job! 

Sinočnje srečanje skupine TORA je bilo očitno tako intenzivno, da sem pozabil na fotografiranje. Pokažem lahko le mali macesen, ki ga je sinoči dokončal Janez in sem ga fotografiral danes zjutraj. Macesen ni nič posebnega, gre pa za odličen materijal za učenje. Janez se je dajal predvsem z žičenjem, saj je drevo zelo lepo razvejano, z vejami in vejicami pa je bilo moč zgraditi kompaktno in prepričljivo krošnjo. Janez je opravil dobro delo.

P.S.: Larix has only one problem, but about it we'll talk another time ;-)

P.P.S.: TORA sessions will continue when I'll come back from Belgrade ...

P.S.: Macesen ima zgolj eno pomankljivost, a o tej kdaj drugič ;-)

P.P.S.: S srečanji bomo nadaljevali po vrnitvi iz Beograda ... 

SPOZNAVNI VEČER

Workshop at new location (there is still a lot of work to do in it) official opened its door. Last night I invited four friends (students?), who expressed a wish to participate in this small group with big plans. We spent a few hours socializing and working on trees. Time will show if they all stay in the group, if they agree with my vision and way of work. We'll talk sincerely and without obligations. So, the group is born!

Delavnica na novi lokaciji (mimogrede: še veliko dela z urejanjem me čaka) je uradno odprla svoja vrata. Sinoči sem v goste povabil štiri prijatelje (učence?), ki so izrazili željo po sodelovanju v ožji skupini z velikimi načrti in nekaj uric smo preživeli ob neformalnem druženju in drevesih. Ali bodo vsi v skupini tudi ostali, se strinjali z mojo vizijo, pogledi in načinom dela, bo pokazal čas. Pogovarjali se bomo iskreno in brez obvez. Skratka, skupina je zaživela!

The door are opened, TORA school is working with full power, all who want to learn about bonsai are welcomed!

Vrata so torej odprta, Tora deluje s polno paro, vsi željni bonsajskega znanja ste vljudno vabljeni!

BONSAI-DO

It is time for a new beginning. Moving to new place was one of the most stressful thing in my life, nevertheless we survive! Things are getting normal, from day to day we enjoy a new environment more. Workshop is starting to emerge, garden is waiting for spring, little house is full of cracks but it fills so home ... Finally we ARE home!

Čas je, da začnemo na novo. Selitev je bila ena najbolj stresnih reči v mojem življenju, pa smo preživeli. Stvari se postavljajo v normalne okvirje, užitek v novem okolju je vsak dan večji. Delavnica dobiva prve obrise, vrt čaka na pomladno urejanje, hiška je polna razpok a tako zelo domača ... Končno smo doma.

There will be no lack of work in a next few years (more lack of money :-) ), but the potential we see in a new home is great. And that is important. House is full of surprising details. House with the soul. And it is in nature! The moon went to sleep when the new morning wake up at the river behind the house ...

Dela nekaj let ne bo zmanjkalo (veliko veliko prej denarja :-) ), toda pomemben je potencial, ki ga v novem domovanju vidimo. Ki kar naprej preseneča z izjemnimi detajli. Hiša z dušo. In v naravi! Luna je šla spat, ko se je na reki za hišo prebujalo novo jutro ...

P.S.: TORA school on a new location is ready. It is time for bonsai. Welcome!

P.S.: Tora na novi lokaciji je pripravljena. Čas je za bonsaje. Vabljeni!