Page 10 - BSAM 2017 Q4

Evaluation In evaluating bonsai or bonsai material with the potential to become what I call fne quality or art quality bonsai, I start with a few general concepts that can be applied to any art form:• It is original, as in some way novel or creative, not a copy of another bonsai.• It employs a high level of skill, or a level sufcient to efectively achieve its purpose.• It is concerned with beauty, either in itself, or in its evocative ability.• It generates some kind of emotional or intellectual response in the viewer.Many books and articles have gone over specifc criteria for judging as at an exhibit, and at least some of these—along with an eye-level photograph of the tree against a plain light background—can be very helpful in deciding whether you will spend your time refning and advancing the design or fxing problems. A few examples:• Is the tree uniformly healthy and without man-made damage or scars?• Does the tree have a sense of individuality, does it tell a story, could you give it a name?• Does it have a sense of coherence (a single approach) naturalistic or abstract, serene or dramatic, graceful or powerful?• Is it well-proportioned in all its parts?• Does it have a sense of balance, is it symmetrical or asymmetrical, stable or dynamic?• Does it have a sense of harmony between its repetitive and contrasting elements?If you still experience uncertainty or discomfort in choosing material yourself, you might seek the services of a competent bonsai artist or teacher to act as a purchasing agent for you.Repetition - ContrastNaturalisticIndividuality, tells a story, evokes a feelingAbstract - RepetitionDramaticAbstractAsymmetrical-StableAsymmetrical-Dynamic