Category: DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS.

Hi, everybody,

It’s been a while, I know…Bonsai at home came to a grinding hold for months now! Life came in between, like it sometimes does! But Bonsai work for or with others was more than ever, figures, doesn’t it?! 😉 Workshops, demo’s and my Summer course for Bonsai beginners, organized by the Bonsai Club “Rijmond” in a perfect location with plenty room to work on the future Bonsai! This 6 Sunday’s day’s course, with 14 day’s intervals, will be repeated next season! So when you are interested to join us, there is a contact address at the end of this post! Here is the post about our little club from their club magazine that i would like to show you all to give a impression of the classes, even though it is written in Dutch!

 

Hallo allemaal,

hier is een post over de 6 twee wekelijkse Bonsai lessen voor beginners die ik afgelopen Zomer gegeven heb voor de Bonsai Vereniging “Rijmond”. Dit bericht was geplaatst door een student (Erwin Stechman) in de “Folius” het Club blad van de vereniging. Het geeft een goed beeld van de leuke ontspannen sfeer en de manier van les geven en les nemen! Wegens het grote succes worden ze volgend jaar weer gehouden, dus als jullie geïnteresseerd zijn om met ons mee te doen, het contant adres vind je onder dit bericht!

 

Bonsai vereniging “Rijmond”

Bonsai cursus onder begeleiding van Hans van Meer

In de plaatselijk krant stond een bericht van de Bonsai vereniging Rijnmond voor een cursus bonsai. Ik had vroeger wel boeken gelezen over bonsai kweken maar de stap van theorie naar de praktijk vond ik wat te groot . Dit was mijn kans om meer op te steken over de kunst van Bonsai en vooral met mensen te spreken die hier ook mee bezig zijn.

Het gezamenlijk kennis en vaardigheden uitwisselen tijdens een bijeenkomst is een bijzondere ervaring . Dit is veel stimulerender dan het lezen van een boek of naar een tentoonstelling gaan. In twee bijeenkomsten heb ik onder begeleiding van de bonsai meester en met behulp van de secretaris van de club mijn eerste bonsai bedraad en ben ik al naar een bonsai veiling geweest. De cursus geeft mij veel houvast. Mij werd al snel duidelijk dat de Nederlandse boeken die hier beschikbaar zijn over bonsai vaak vertaalde boeken zijn vanuit de Japanse situatie en klimaat.

De cursus leider Hans van Meer weet met zijn jaren van ervaring op heldere en duidelijke wijze praktijk kennis over te brengen naar de Nederlandse situatie. Hij doet dit op zo’n manier dat leden die net zijn begonnen met bonsai of die al veel ervaring hebben op een leuke manier nieuwe dingen leren en dit kunnen toepassen in hun eigen situatie.

Erwin Stechman

VOOR INFO: BONSAIAVERENIGING-RIJNMOND (NL)

WEBSITE:

http://www.bonsai-vereniging-rijnmond.nl

Alle bijeenkomsten van onze vereniging vinden plaats in

Zorgcentrum Hooge-Werf

Adres: ’t Wiel 2 3171 BJ Poortugaal

Zondagmiddag: aanvang 13.00 uur,

Zaal open om 12.30 uur.

Maandagavond aanvang 19.30 uur.

Inlichtingen: Marijke Claassens Tel. 010-4756813 http://www.bonsai-vereniging-rijnmond.nl

 

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Cheers/Groetjes,

Hans van Meer.

Info: karamotto@hotmail.com

 

 

Click on pictures to enlarge!

Hi, everybody,

early on the 17th of May, after a very warm 1,5-hour drive, I arrived in Edigem (Belgium) for my demo at this year’s Bonsai show from the (Antwerp section) of the “Vlaamse Bonsai Vereniging”. I had brought along a Yamadori Pinus Silvestris that I had prepared partly at home so that I would have time enough to finish it at this demo! Two thick branches needed to be bend severely so the time-consuming applying of wet rafia to protect the branches was already don at home to save time! I also had prepared a large wooden board to hold the whole pot and tree into it’s new forward tilted position during the demo!

Even though it was a very warm day there were still a lot of visitors in the large hall where the event was staged!

Below: Section of the hall were the prices for the lottery were showed.

Below: Having a coffee and a friendly talk with my old Belgium Bonsai friend Huub Behets.

Below: My demo tree before the work begon.

Below: Explaining my plans for the tree.

An iron rod was used to hold the heavily bent new top into its new place.

Below: Bringing the foliage of the left hanging branch into position.

Below: Shaping the Jins and Shari.

Below: Almost finished and in time! 🙂

Below: Not the best picture, I know! But it’s a small garden and I have run out of space to make a better picture! 🙂

I had a great day and I would like to thank the members of the Vlaamse Bonsai Vereniging for their hospitality and the kind use of their photo’s! Next Saturday my demo at the 25th National Dutch Bonsai Show! I can’t wait!!! 

Cheers,

Hans van Meer.

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“I FLY SO HIGH AND FALL SO LOW”

Info for workshops and demo’s only: karamottobonsai@hotmail.com

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Hi, everybody,

last week I had my good Bonsai friend from Germany Dirk Mundorf in my garden for yet a other day of Bonsai fun in the sun (again!). This time he would help me working on my own trees. We worked on a Juniper, cutting off old wire and cleaned the bark and the deadwood. And in the meanwhile I explained about how and when to work on them and how to do it. We prepared a old needle Juniper to go home with Dirk so that he could take care of it. And then he wired and styled “Mae West” the little Hawthorn of mine that he fell in love with a long time ago and is from now his and under his future care! She turned out pretty nice and we were both proud about the out come!

Here are some pictures of that great Bonsai fun day in the sun!

After a long day and a lovely meal, Dirk went home with a big smile taking “Mae West” to her new home in Germany! 🙂 I hope they will have a happy life together! 😉

I hope you enjoyed this little impression of a fun Bonsai day?!

Cheers,

Hans van Meer.

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“I FLY SO HIGH AND FALL SO LOW”

Info for workshops and demo’s only: karamottobonsai@hotmail.com

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Hi, everybody,

on the 26th of April, I gave my second workshop at the Slovenian Bonsai Club. This trip was organized by my dear friends Roland Petek and Janoz and I owe them a lot of thanks! 😉 We luckily had amazing weather so we were able to stage it outside so that we could work on our tan as well as on the trees! 🙂 The venue was perfect and the dinner they served at lunchtime was very enjoyable as well! So it turned out to be an amazing day with smiles all around and some amazing (pre) Bonsai as a resold! It is good to see that the level of the students, as well as the material, is rising so fast in this club, something that they should be really proud of! Here are some images of the trees and the students to give an impression of that wonderful day among friends!

First, each and every tree was discussed for all who were there. This is a great learning moment for all, I included because everybody can share their views about the styling and ask, or answer, to the point questions about how to reach that final stage in a bonsai live! I believe that styling advice should also consist proper techniques, aftercare and maintenance…..and a drawing of course! 😉

Janoz promising Mugo Pine and the drawing that I made as a reference.

                                                              In my element! 🙂

                                      Janoz working the deadwood all by hand!

My way of praying! 😉 Here I am explaining about how a tree like this could improve by opening it more up to the base section, with open arms, like it’s inviting you to a hug. That makes it more impressive and over towering , if that is a word?! By seeing sections of the lower trunk we get a better feeling of just how big this tree (appears) to be and from that, we can calculate from just how far away we are seeing it. All that instant info that gives us, the viewer, the feeling that we are actually looking at a, not too far away, real sized massive tree! All that info by just opening up the lower part of the trunk and the first branches. Bonsai is also being proud of your branch structure! It takes many extra years, but the end result is always better! But that’s just my opinion! 😉

                      Roland giving a helping hand styling this massive Fagus.

             My good friend Tomaz Kovsca lending a student an helping hand.

                   Discussing the possibilities of a lovely Fagus double trunk.

                             And important: Alway’s time for a joke….or 2! 🙂

The quick drawing I made to show which branches needed to be removed to create beautiful open spaces so that you could see through the tree and experience more a feeling of depth and size!

Before the work started Nik Rozman explained his plans for the styling of his difficult Mugo yamadori.

                       Nik is wiring his Pinus while Pinky is looking on.

                                   And the great result of Nik’s hard work!

I love to make simple drawing designs, they help to explain the possibility’s of the tree and the students like to keep them as a memory!

Some heavy bending would be necessary on this Sylvestris to create a workable future base to work from.

Much better trunk line already! Amazing what you can do with good preparation!

                      Green arrow: just look how far that trunk was bend! 🙂

                   Everybody listens or join’s in the discussion of each tree!

                                             How cool is this little tree?! 🙂

Hope you guy’s enjoyed this little impression of a wonderful day amongst friends in Slovenia? Guy’s thanks for having me and I hope to be back soon for another Bonsai fun day!

Thanks to Roland Petek  (Bonsai-Living Art) for the use of his wonderful pictures and the rest!

More pics of my trip to Slovenia will follow soon

Cheers,

Hans van Meer.

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“I FLY SO HIGH AND FALL SO LOW”

Info for workshops and demo’s only: karamottobonsai@hotmail.com

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Hi, everybody,

after a very hectic week, I want to show you some last pictures that I forgot to post in the earlier post about “Burrs” 2013, and I don’t want to forget anybody from who I have a nice picture off….?…. Bladie blabbla….it’s late I know! 🙂

Some more sing-along moments for all the people from all around Europe that were there! Unforgettable moments indeed! 🙂

Next is an interesting question that was asked by Chris over on the IBC Forum, it could be interesting for others too, so here we go:   

Beautiful lines. I saw you drawing out the tree, do you come up with the design and then sketch, or do you play around with poss. designs while sketching, then deciding upon the final styling?

I answered with:

Here is the drawing that I made on the Saturday evening for Steward. He was working on another off his trees and his amazing (UK) Yamadori Pine stood beside him on the table, I asked him is it OK that I make a design option for your Pine? He said: yes, please! So I grabbed my sketchpad and started to draw the outlines of the tree and the beginning of the main branches that I was planning to use. When those outlines are more or less similar that the actual tree, well then I start to draw the rest of the main branches and than the smaller branches until they are about the length that feels or seems right! Then the bundles of needles are made quickly until the outline of each foliage pad has reached more or less the right outline that feels right. More needles are drawn until everything is more or less in balance to me…that’s it really?! I have found out that by drawing your design onto paper or pc is very helpful to check if it looks all right and possible. And by setting your image with your hands into a drawing you will always remember them! You have created a blueprint in your head with the use of your hands. In this case, the drawing also helps the student to see with his own eyes what you are seeing as a possible future for his tree! This makes it all clearer and easier to understand and helps them to make a well-thought decision about the future of their own trees! And it is a nice souvenir as well! Steward was very happy with the drawing….I was pleasantly surprised that next day he asked me if I please would help him to style his pine! That was a brave decision from him because for my intended design some major branches needed to be cut off or made into a Jin! So that puts a little bit of pressure onto your shoulders…but that feels nice!

Here is the drawing that I made for Steward.

Concentrated at work on a very promising Itoigawa pre Bonsai!

My friend “Hick ups” 🙂 and Pavel.

And finally: how it all started! Early Saturday morning, organizer Tony Tickle introducing us the teachers to 36 ready to go Bonsai lovers! From left to right: Marcio Meruje (Portugal), Pavel Slovak (Czech Republic), Hans van Meer (The Netherlands, Holland), Will Baddeley (UK) and Last but not least Terry Foster (UK).

And before we knew it, it was all over again! I had a blast and it did me a ton off good to get there in the end! And who knows????

Cheers,

Hans van Meer.

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_________________ “I FLY SO HIGH AND FALL SO LOW”

For info about workshop’s and demo’s only: karamottobonsai@hotmail.com