Artistic elements in bonsai, the Focal point

Focal points are wonderful tools. They grab the attention of the viewer. In trees focal points for the most part are in Mr. Ryan Neil’s words special features. Special features are those parts of a tree that you want to highlight. Some trees have amazing flowers. Special features can be jin and shari. Also, fruits and leaves can be special features. Focal points can be the nebari (roots on the soil surface), or the way the trunk twists. Think to yourself what is the most interesting part of the tree?

Since your focal point grabs attention quickly it carries a lot of weight. On a post about balance I will touch on focal point in the overall picture. Cheers.

the rock is an amazing focal point

All that Shari brings the eyes right to the trunk

You can't help looking at the tick twisted part of the trunk

The aerial roots are a good focal points

Is there a focal point here?

Artistic aesthetic elements in bonsai, Space

It's everywhere unless we are taking it up. Space is another element in art.  There are two parts to space. They are positive space and negative space. Positive space is the space that the tree takes up. This includes trunk, branches, and foliage. Negative space is the space in between the positive space. In other words the empty space.

Understanding negative space is critical to good bonsai design. Even though negative space is empty space it plays an important role in where we place the parts of a tree.

Look athe the branches from left to right. It is filled with negative space. However, some spaces are bigger than others. The left side the negative spaces are more and they are smaller. The right side has bigger negative space. As your eyes move along the tree it will tend to pause at those bigger spaces. I don’t really want that to happen with this tree. So I will have to break up the negative space.

Can you see the difference?

There is also negative space that surrounds the tree. I personally prefer when the negative space surrounding a branch touches the trunk. That is just my preference. Here are two distinct ways to use negative space.  

Space, its positive or its negative. Use negative space to support your positive space. Lots of negative space around an object makes it look alone. Less negative space creates more tension. Cheers.

Artistic Aesthetic elements cont..., Shapes and forms

Shapes are two dimensional and geometric. When you draw a circle, square, or triangle you are drawing a shape. Forms are three dimensional and geometric. These include cylinders, pyramids, and cones. I would say that the most prevailing shape in bonsai is conical.

conical

Semi spherical

Spherical form

Besides the obvious silhouette made by a form they are important in that they can add to motion. In sculpting rhythm is important. Adding forms to sculpture gives rhythm. Repetition of shapes in varying sizes creates rhythm.

The trunk and foliage are two different cones

Rhythmic design

Shapes and forms are easier to understand than some other elements. The key is to use them to guide the eye. Cheers.

Artistic aesthetic elements in bonsai, or making bonsai pretty

It might be presumptuous of me to tell other people how to fix aesthetic flaws in their bonsai. After all I am a novice. Like I have said before, bonsai is a living sculpture. Sculptures are art, and I know something about art. I will explain the fundamentals of art theory and relate them do bonsai aesthetics. Yes these are my opinions, you are welcome to disagree. I already stated that bonsai is art (http://bonsai-misadventures.blogspot.com/2016/03/bonsai-what-should-they-look-like.html). Now I will delve deeper.

I will focus on the following elements: line, shape, form, space, color, texture, and balance. So as not to bore you I will make separate posts for each element. We will begin with line. Lines are everywhere. Where dark and light meet you have a line. Where two colors meet you have a line. Trunks branches and leaves make lines. The silhouette of a tree makes a line. Lines are ever so important in art.  

Lines guide the eye

The lines in your bonsai will show the eyes what direction to move. The most interesting lines are the ones that vary in thickness and direction. Some people say that a bonsai needs a tapering trunk to suggest age. I say, maybe. However a tapering trunk is a line that varies in thickness and that my friends is very pleasing to the eye. A wide base and thin apex gives the illusion of a vanishing point. The more pronounced the further the perceived distance.

The trunk is a line of varying width

Some lines are suggested. Like under and above a pad of foliage. I love white pine. The reason is that the needles are little lines. They vary in value (shade) and give the tree texture.

suggested lines under and above the foliage

Lines tell the viewer what to feel. Vertical lines are rigid and stern. Horizontal lines are calm. Diagonal lines are action and tense. 

Take the formal upright style. Most of the lines are horizontal. In the center there is the main line which is vertical. These lines make the formal upright style seem traditional and comforting.  

Vertical and horizontal lines

I may offend some readers by saying that these horizontal and vertical lines are boring. What is keeping this style from making the trees look like topiary is the silhouette. The silhouette is composed of two suggested lines that are diagonal. Don't misunderstand me. Chokkan or formal upright is a very difficult style to make.

Suggested diagonal lines

The windswept style can be very dynamic. I saw this chinese elm at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. I was awe stricken. Not only are the lines diagonal, but they move in one direction and then go the opposite way. There is a lot of movement for the eye to perceive.

Diagonal lines

Lines, in road ways or art, they take us on a journey. Cheers.