Noelanders Trophy 2013

One of the greatest bonsai events in Europe, the Noelanders Trophy is behind us and I’m full of new impressions which I have to process first. But the most important things don’t need to be processed, you can simply feel them. To keep it simple my first thoughts are: "It was great to meet bonsai friends from all over the world, feel the good atmosphere and of course enjoy the great trees".

Noelanders Trophy 2013 Winner - Picea Jezonesis by Luis Balino

NT 2013 best deciduous bonsai - Fagus Crenata by Luis Vallejo

NT 2013  Nomination - Pinus Sylvestris by Mariano Aisa

NT 2013 Nomination - Olea Europea Sylvestris
by Garcia Fernandes Erasmo

NT 2013 Nomination - Shohin composition by Mark and Ritta Cooper

NT 2013 Nomination - Acer Palmatum by Udo Fischer

NT 2013 Nomination - Pinus Pentaphylla by Pedro Paes Mamede

NT 2013 Nomination - Pinus Pentaphylla by Luis Vallejo

NT 2013 Nomination -  Shohin composition by Nancy Vaele

Pinus Sylvestris - Mauro Stemberger

Prunus Mume - Andreas Roth

Larix Decidua - Martin Nielsen

Ulmus Parvifolia - Bill Gordon

Pseudocydonia Sinesi - Frederic Chenal

Juniperus Sabina - Luis Vila

Pinus Sylvestris - Milan Karpisek

Pinus Parviflora - Sandor Papp

Cryptomeria Japonica - Alexandre Escudero

Prunus Spinosa - Tony Tickle

Acer Palmatum Deshojo - Mike Rose

Junipeus Chinesis - Sian Lim

Acer Palmatum Kashima - Peter Tombs

Pinus Mugo - Andre Dorfinger

Juniperus Chinesis Itoigawa - David Yarranton

Acer Palmatum - Walter Pall

Crataegus Monogyna - Tony Tickle

Juniperus Chinesis Itoigawa - Mauro Stemberger

Pinus Sylvestris - Walter Pall

Juniperus Procumbens - Christian Vos

Punica Granatum - Frederic Chenal

Larix Decidua - Hans van Meer

Pinus Mugo - Jorge Campos

Pinus Parviflora - Marc Bauwens

Pinus Sylvestris - David Benavente

Juniperus Sabina - Andrea Melloni

Juniperus Sabina - Vila Gonzalez Luis

Pinus Uncinata - Vaclav Novak

Juniperus Chinesis - Saverio Noviello

Pinus Sylvestris - Alex Gomez Lopez

Carpinus Koreana - Marek Gajda

Betula Pendula - Hermann Haas

Noelanders Trophy 2013 - First Impressions

As usual the expectations for the Noelanders Trophy are very high. And this year was no exception. The quality level of the trees is high and the whole event is great. Here are some first photos. More photos from the exhibition and demonstrations will be posted soon.

Juniper three years later

I bought this tree in 2010 at the international Slovenian Bonsai Club exhibition. In the same year I styled the tree for the first time. 

2010-05 - Juniper start material

2010-05 - Juniper start material 

After a quite sad end result of the first styling I found out that for a decent shape more radically steps in the change of the trunk line have to be made. 

2010-06 - After the first styling

To be able to bend the thick trunk I had to carve the inside of the trunk at the point where I wanted to change the trunk line. After the carving job the tree was left to rest for one season. The vision of the design at this time was to bend the trunk down and style a smaller compact tree. Next year at a workshop with Hans Van Meer he convinced me to make a literaty style, so  my vision changed completely and today I’m really glad for making this decision.

2011-10 - Before second styling

2011-10 - After second styling

After the second styling my feelings about the tree ware somewhat divided. I liked the design when I was in a good mood, and didn’t like it when I had a bad day. So the tree was left alone for a while and was unfortunately even a little bit neglected. 

In the last couple of workshops at TORA I again started to work on the tree with an easy, slow, analytical approach. The whole group discussed different design scenarios. While cleaning the trunk, searching for the live vein, analyzing the tree we talked about different ideas of the end design. Tomaž even drew a sketch of the future design, which took into account several design aspects, including the golden cut (the sketch is available in here). Thanks Tomaž :)

2012-12 - Before the last styling

So finally after a couple of workshops I managed to finish the next styling and im quite happy with the result.

2013-01 - After the last styling

The tree made some nice development in the last three years and I believe it is on a good way. In the next steps I will work on the deadwood, search for a pot and take good care of it.

Progress in three years

2013 - Bring It On

Some kind of a bonsai season beginning for me has become the Noelanders Trophy exhibition, which gives me some kind of start-kick, files me with expectations, gets me additional motivation and energy and then things start rolling. Despite the fact that the exhibition is in two weeks Tomaž, Miha, Tomaž, Janez, Matej and I opened the season this Wednesday at the TORA workshop.

We had a good start, so let's see .... 2013 Bring It On.