KLEK

Last night Andrej completed the first phase of styling at his Thuja occidentalis. From gritty and cheap starting material, the interesting tree was created and with proper care it can be developed in interesting bonsai. For now, most of the shari is incomplete, there is also still a lot of work on green mass, but with correct pinching the green mass will be more compact and hard, although Thuja is always somewhat uncomed,  because of the way of its growth ...
 

Andrej je sinoči dokončal prvo fazo oblikovanja svojega kleka. Iz neuglednega in poceni začetnega materijala, je nastalo zanimivo drevo, ki se bo ob pravilni negi lahko razvilo v prav takšen bonsaj. Za zdaj je večina šarija še nedodelanega, Andreja pa čaka tudi veliko dela z zelenjem, ki se lahko ob pravilnem vršičkanju zgosti in otrdi, čeprav bo klek zaradi načina svoje rasti vedno nekoliko skuštran ...

Thuja before

and after first styling

Roland has worked on Carpinus, he removed the old leaves, and then began to repare the faults in the crown. Often it seems that the tree takes a step backward, but of course this is done with reason and only in order to then take three steps forward. Roland has decided to build a crown as it should be, which is especially importan at deciduous trees. Therefore, he removed all thick secondary branches, branch will now has a nice tapper. H also made a decision how the top will be developed. Such detailed work will pay off in two seasons. Otherwise, work on Carpinus has not finished yet, something it has remained for the next workshop ...

 

Roland je delal na gabru, ki mu je odstranil staro listje, potem pa začel odpravljati napakena krošnji. Velikokrat se zdi, da z drevesom napravimo korak nazaj, a to seveda napravimo z razlogom in samo zato, da bi potem napravili tri korake naprej. Roland se je odločil, da bo krošnjo gradil tako, kot je treba, kar je pri listavcih še posebej pomembno. Zato je odstranil vse predebele sekundarne veje, da se bo veja lepo delila in ožala proti svojemu koncu. Odločil se je tudi, kako bo vzgojil vrh. Takšno natančno delo se bo v dveh sezonah zelo obrestovalo. Sicer pa dela na gabru še ni čisti končano, nekaj ga je ostalo še za naslednjo delavnico ...

 

PS: Oh, and Nik aslo visited us, he couldn't withstand it more without bonsai :-)

 

P.S.: Aja, pa obiskal nas je tudi Nik, ki ni zdržal več brez bonsajev :-)

 

SMREKA

At the regular weekly meeting of the Tora group Andrej continued to work on Thuja, Matej continued to work with maple. Roland wired his Cotoneaster (shohin size) for the first time. Cotoneaster has good potential, slightly worse nebari as Roland expecting, but still very good tree - bonsai at the beginning of its path. Thinning out branches and wiring was necessary to prepare the tree for the new season, when the crown will be carefully built from the inside out. At the next session the tree will receive some adjustments, but after the first day of work on it the difference is obvious: the first branch is still much too thin, even positioning of the branches is not quite finished, but the base is here:

 

Na redno tedensko srečanje skupine Tora so prišli Andrej, ki je nadaljeval delo na kleku, Matej, ki se je še naprej ukvarjal z javorjem in Roland, ki je prvič ožičil svojo panešpljico (Cotoneaster) šohin velikosti. Panešpljica ima dober potencial, sicer nekoliko slabši nebari, kot je Roland pričakoval, a vseeno zelo dobro drevo, na začetku svoje bonsajske poti. Redčenje vej in žičenje je bilo nujno za pripravo na novo sezono, ko bo krošnja pazljivo grajena od znotraj navzven. Drevo bo ob naslednjem srečanju deležno še nekaj popravkov, že po prvem dnevu dela na njem, pa je razlika očitna: prva veja je sicer še veliko pretanka, tudi pozicinorianje vej še ni čisto končano, a osnova je tu:

 

 

 

Last night Janez finished wiring his spruce. This is species that requires a lot of wiring, but on the other hand, it is extremely sensitive to touching. The first rule, when working on spruce is: constantly spraying and wet fingers. When I watched Carlos Van Den Vaart at recent Noelanders Trophy at demo on the spruce, I didn't beleive what I have seen. Throughout his demonstration Carlos didn't spray the spruce, even not for once, and after a few minutes needles began to fall out of his fingers; at the end the poor spruce was like a New Year's tree which is put into a corner after New Year holidays. Without needles it was doomed. While Carlos was constantly talking that spruce do not like wiring - one in a warm place, without spraying and working on with dry hands, certainly not. Within minutes our hands soak a protective layer of essential oils from needles which are then exposed to air and dry and fall off. Therefore: always spray and work with wet hands. Janez was wiring the spruce for the last four sessions in the Tora, but there were no broken needles. But he used a lot of water :-)

 

Janez je sinoči le dokončal žičenje smreke. Gre za vrsto, ki zahteva največ žičenja, po drugi strani pa je na dotike izjemno občutljiva. Prvo pravilo pri delu na smreki je: neprestano pršenje krošnje in mokri prsti. Ko sem na nedavnem Noelanders trophyju pri demonstraciji na smreki opazoval Carlosa Van Den Vaarta, se mi je kar milo storilo. Carlos ves čas demonstracije smreke ni niti enkrat popršil in že po nekaj minutah so se izpod njegovih prstov začele usipati iglice; uboga smreka je bila na koncu demonstracije podobna novoletni smrečici, ki jo oguljeno po novoletnih praznikih postavimo v kot. Brez iglic je bila obsojena na propad. Obenem pa je Carlos ves čas govoril, da smreke nimajo rade žičenja - takšnega, v toplem prostoru, brez pršenja in z suhimi rokami gotovo ne. Naše roke že v nekaj minutah izsesajo zaščitno plast eteričnih olj z iglice, ki se nato na zraku posuši in odpade. Zato torej: ves čas pršenje in mokre roke. Janez je smreko žičil na zadnjih štirih seansah v Tori, a odpadla ni praktično niti ena iglica. Zato pa je ob žičenju porabil tudi veliko vode :-)

 

Starting material

Final adjustments

Result with inclination

Without inclination

 

Before - after

 

For the first shaping the result is more than excellent. Good work, Janez! The crown is slightly to round because the first lower branches are slightly too short. But this is the smallest problem. Meanwhile, one looking at the tree can easily imagine a powerful, ancient spruce in the mountains that grow on virtually identical manner. The final design will incorporate a little more empty spaces in the crown. Until then Janez will find a suitable pot!

 

Za prvo oblikovanje je rezultat več kot odličen. Bravo Janez! Zdaj je sicer krošnja nekoliko preokrogla, ker so prve spodnje veje nekoliko prekratke. A to je najmanjša težava. Že zdaj pa si človek ob opazovanju drevesa zlahka predstavlja mogočno, starodavno smreko v Karavankah, ki rastejo na praktično identičen način. V končnem dizajnu bo v krošnji tudi nekaj več praznega prostora, ampak o tem drugič. Do takrat pa bo Janez našel tudi primerno posodo!

 

P.S.: I started a new project with red pine. I'm in the middle of work, which will last for a week or two. The report follows of course!

 

P.S.: Jaz sem začel nov projekt z rdečim borom. Sem sredi dela, ki bo trajalo še kak teden ali dva. Poročilo seveda sledi!

TORA ATELJE

Last night in the studio was busy again. It was one of those evenings when air is full of pleasant working atmosphere. Janez continued with wiring his spruce, Andrej started his second project within the school:

 

Sinoči je bilo v ateljeju spet delavno. Bil je en tistih večerov, ko zrak prežema prijetno delovno vzdušje. Janez je še naprej žičil smreko, Andrej pa začel svoj drugi projekt v okviru šole:

 

 

Miha is still wiring the Chamaecyparis, but is nearing the top ...

 

Miha je še vedno pri žičenju paciprese, ampak se bliža vrhu ...

 

 

Matej continues to create dead wood on maple with a chisel :

 

Matej še vedno z dletom oblikuje mrtev les na javorju:

 

 

Dead wood on the Roland juniper is all better, it has more and more details:

 

Mrtev les na Rolandovem brinu pa je vse boljši, ima vse več podrobnosti:

 

 

There is evidence that also in bonsaism we are up with the modern times - analysis using a computer!

 

In da gremo tudi v bonsajizmu v korak s časom, je dokaz tu - analiza s pomočjo računalnika!

 

 

PS: Weekend with Enrico Savini's PF will be the 9 and 10 February in Domžale. More info on 041241224, welcome!

 

P.S.: Konec tedna z Enricom Savinijem v okviru PF bomo 9. in 10. februarja izvedli v Domžalah. Več info na 041241224, vabljeni!

ANDREJ

Last night in TORA atelier: Miha working at his Chamaecyparis, Roland creating dead-wood on juniper, Andrej studying a book. Han-kengai juniper is the Andrej's first project in the school.

 

Sinoči v ateljeju TORA: Miha je delal na pacipresi, Roland ustvarjal na suhem lesu na brinu, Andrej študiral knjigo. Polkaskadni brin je Andrejev prvi projekt znotraj šole.

 

 

NOELANDERS 2013

Visit to the Noelanders Trophy, the most prestigious European bonsai-show, usually marks the start of a new season. The exhibition in Zolder, Belgium,  was again something special. I enjoyed the conversations with my friends from all over Europe, but especially I enjoyed the trees. On the shelves, the European yamadoris prevailed, which I think is good. Yet to win on this show is still necessary to have a large tree of Japanese origin ...
 

Začetek nove sezone običajno zaznamuje obisk Noelanders Trophyja, najprestižnejše evropske razstave. Tudi tokrat je bilo srečanje v Zolderju v Belgiji nekaj posebnega. Užival sem v pogovorih s prijatelji iz vse Evrope, predvsem pa v drevesih. Na policah so prevladovali evropski jamadoriji, kar je po mojem dobro. A kljub temu je za zmago na tej razstavi še vedno potrebno imeti veliko drevo japonskega izvora ...

Grand winner of Nolenadres Trophy 2013: Picea glenhii, Luis Balino, Spain

You can find more than enough photos of trees on the internet, so I'll show you  only one which has already made ​​an impression on me seven years ago at the European Convention on Ksiaz castle in Poland. Larch by Martin Nielsen, Denmark, has matured over the years and now it has everything that good bonsai must have: a carefully selected pot, good nebari, tappering, ramification and the story. Very good, Martin Nielsen, congratulations! Unfortunately, the tree is apparently too small to impress the judges, but this is not the point. When the tree touches the observer, the goal has been reached ...

Na internetu je več kot dovolj fotografij dreves, zato bom izpostavil zgolj eno, ki je name napravilo vtis že pred sedmimi leti na evropski konvenciji na gradu Ksiaz na Poljskem. Macesen Danca Martina Nielsena je v teh letih dozorel in se ponaša z vsem, kar mora imeti bonsaj: skrbno izbrano posodo, dober nebari, ožanje, razvejanost in zgodbo. Zelo dobro Martin Nielsen, čestitke! Žal je drevo očitno premajhno, da bi napravilo vtis na sodnike, a to niti ni bistvo. Ko se drevo dotakne opazovalca, je namen že dosežen ...

Larix decidua at Ksiaz castle in 2006

The same tree seven years later

PS: There are still a few places available for the PF workshop, led by Enrico Savini. We have the favorable price, so hurry up with registrations!

P.S.: Še vedno je na voljo nekaj mest za delavnico PF, ki jo bo vodil Enrico Savini. Poskrbeli smo za ugodne cene, zato pohitite s prijavami!

ROLI

Last night in the studio was very buisy. Matej and Janez have continued to work on their projects, the results will be discussed, after they finish any of the phases. Andrej joined the TORA group for the first time, he recently completed a course for beginners. Now he started a new project which will be completed at the next meetings of the group.

Delavni večer v ateljeju je za nami. Matej in Janez sta nadaljevala delo na svojih projektih, o rezultatih bomo govorili, ko bosta zaključila kakšno izmed faz. Skupini TORA se je prvič pridružil tudi Andrej, ki je pred kratkim opravil tečaj za začetnike. Zdaj je začel nov projekt, ki ga bo dokončal na naslednjih srečanjih skupine.

Tomaž has completed the first phase of detailed wiring on Chamaecyparis. When it was brought to the studio nearly two months ago it was in the same condition as showed in the photo below.

Tomaž je dokončal prvo fazo podrobnega oblikovanja paciprese. Ko jo je pred skoraj dvema mesecema prinesel v atelje je bila v takšnem stanju, kot je na fotografiji spodaj.

This was followed by analysis and some trimming and a lot of wiring. Chamaecyparis did a substantial step forward; it is poted too high, so this will be corrected at next stages of development.

Sledila je analiza, nekaj obrezovanja in veliko žičenja. Pacipresa je napravila velik korak naprej; posajena je  previsoko, tudi to bo v naslednjih fazah razvoja popravljeno.

After three workshops Roland has completed the first phase of shaping the crown on his juniper.

Roland je po treh delavnicah dokončal prvo fazo oblikovanja krošnje na brinu.

When it was brought into the studio a month and a half ago, Juniper began the journey or transformation and return to the right path, because Roland was already about to get rid of that tree.

Ko ga je pred mesecem in pol prinesel v atelje, se je začela pot preobrazbe oz. vračanje na pravo pot, saj je bil Roland že na tem, da se brina znebi.

First, Roland was searching out living veins, while there was a lot of time for a detailed analysis of the tree.

Roland se je najprej lotil iskanja živih ven, ob tem pa je bilo dovolj časa za podrobno analizo drevesa.

As we in TORA school start to work on trees analytically (more or less) we took some time, we analyzed the tree in detailes. Depending on the desired effect and the associated composition (taking in account also the golden ratio, etc..), I quickly prepared the sketch below:

Ker se v šoli TORA vsega lotimo analitično (no bolj ali manj) smo si vzeli kar nekaj časa, da smo drevo podrobno analizirali. Glede na željeni učinek in s tem povezano kompozicijo (upoštevan zlati rez ipd.) sem na hitro pripravil spodnjo skico:

Roland was initially favorized different solutions, but in the end he realized almost an identical result, as anticipated by the sketch. And this was done by his feelings only. If the author has a keen sense of beauty, one can not expect to be much different - golden ratio and the composition is the key to success, nevertheless if it occurs on paper or by feelings. Very good job Roland!

Roland se je najprej nagibal k drugačnim rešitvam, na koncu pa po občutku prišel do skoraj identičnega rezultata, kot ga je predvidevala skica. Če ima avtor izostren občutek za lepoto na koncu niti ne more biti veliko drugače - zlati rez in kompozicija je ključ do uspeha, pa če do njega pridemo na papirju ali po občutku. Zelo dobro delo Roland! 

P.S.: We begin with the 3rd year of PF branch in Slovenia. Book a weekend 9.-10. February, we will be led by Enrico Savini. All students please confirm participation untill 31 January. There are some free places for newcomers, if you are interested, write me an email!

P.S.: Začenjamo s 3. letnikom Torine podružnice šole PF v Sloveniji. Rezervirajte si konec tedna 9.-10. februar, vodil bo Enrico Savini. Vse študente prosimo, če do 31. januarja potrdijo udeležbo. Nekaj prostih mest je tudi za novince, zainteresirani, javite se na mail!

PRVA LETOS

It is not always the case, but last night in the studio working atmosphere prevailed! The first workshop in the new year, students are full of new energy! When such energy is in the air, then the results of the work are good. Matej was working on the big maple from which he is determined to carve the future bonsai, Miha has quietly worked behind the scenes on Chamaecypris.

 

Ni vedno tako, ampak sinoči je v ateljeju vladalo delovno vzdušje! Prva delavnica v novem letu, študentje polni nove energije! Ko je v zraku takšna energija, potem so tudi rezultati dela dobri. Matej je v ospredju delal na velikem javorjevem čoku, iz katerega se je namenil v prihodnosti izklesati bonsaj, Miha se je v ozadju tiho ukvarjal s pacipreso.

 

 

Roland has continued to work on juniper, this time under the watchful eye of Tomaž. Roland is closer to the goal now, the idea of ​​how to creat crown is clear, the contours of bonsai are increasingly visible. For now, just in the shadow ...

 

Roland je nadaljeval z delom na brinu, tokrat pod budnim Tomaževim očesom. Roland je vedno bližje cilju, ideja o oblikovanju krošnje je izpiljena, obrisi bonsaja so vse bolj vidni. Za zdaj zgolj v senci ...

 

 

Janez started a new project on spruce. It is a small tree, Katade-mochi size, which has everything bonsai should have - especially remarkable character. All too often such trees are in the shade of large bonsai, which impress with their magnificence, allthough at a lower quality. Janez will try to prove the opposite, and try to squeeze all the potential from tree. This time, there has been only the first step done.

 

Janez je začel nov projekt na smreki. Gre za manjše drevo kategorije Katade-moči, ki pa ga krasi vse, kar bonsaj mora imeti - predvsem izjemen karakter. Vse prevečkrat so takšna drevesa na razstavah v senci velikih bonsajev, ki napravijo vtis z svojo mogočnostjo, pa čeprav po kvaliteti zaostajajo za manjšimi. Janez bo poskušal dokazati nasprotno in iz drevesa iztisniti ves potencijal. Tokrat je bil storjen zgolj prvi korak.

 

 

 

I was  all over the tall juniper, which get a very nice line by the physical assistance of all. But that's another story ...

Jaz sem se znašal nad potegnjenim brinom, ki je ob fizični pomoči vseh dobil zelo lepo linijo. Ampak to je že druga zgodba ...

 

 

PS: For a nominal fee you can join the Tora Group too. Welcome!

 

P.S.: Skupini Tora se za simbolično članarino lahko pridružite tudi vi. Vabljeni!