The most compelling aspects of bonsai are often out of our control. This is true for both deadwood and movement – a tree either has them or it doesn’t. While hand-carved deadwood and manufactured movement can be both beautiful and artistic, it’s hard to compete with nature.
Branch on a dead lodge pole pine
When it comes to deadwood, only age can produce the texture, color and detail we see on old trees living in harsh conditions.
Fissured deadwood
Smooth deadwood
It would be very difficult to produce the delicate detail that results from exposure to the elements over time. For this reason, natural deadwood is often prized above man-made deadwood.
Delicate deadwood
Much of the same can be said of a tree’s movement. Together, weather, wind and water, with help from sand, snow and ice, can produce beautiful effects.
Sierra juniper foliage
Junipers and deadwood
Over time, nature can produce novel combinations of movement and deadwood. Some are extreme.
Massive trunks support soft foliage
Others combinations are more lyrical.
A twisting branch
Stepping back a bit, we can find beautiful patterns in branches of similar age bending at similar angles.
Beautiful bends
Just as often, inconsistent bends can produce equally beautiful results.
Imaginative bends
The harshest conditions can produce wild results.
Deadwood formed by many years of harsh existence
This results in trees that convey their response to the environment. Few varieties do this as well as junipers.
Sierra juniper
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Mac says
This points out one of the problems I have with creating jin on a bonsai. Even Kimura cannot duplicate what your photos illustrate. If not natural I appreciate an accent jin of a small branch here and there or a bare patch of wood on a trunk. The trees that are made mostly bare wood with a live vein feeding a clump of foliage at the top while an interesting exhibit of someones skill just doesn’t excite me, unless it is a natural occurring condition from nature.
zack Clayton says
Well said Mac. And as to manufactured jin, I feel that less is more. break the branch off and tear it a little. burn off the fibers and, if needed, bend the branch to a position with the heat and leave it alone to weather.
Jeremy Norbury says
Seen this? : http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t11571-aging-deadwood-with-winter-in-a-can
mirko says
Nice post!!!!!!! tnx for share
susan says
Great post, Jonas. Thanks for the lovely pics.
bonsai junkie says
break, tear, burn, bend? we are but men…………