"So what is Bonsai all about?” is a question we are often asked. For many people a stereotypical image of an old Japanese man nurturing a bizarre looking tree in isolation of the rest of the civilised world is what immediately springs to mind! In reality the hobby is somewhat more sophisticated and attracts a wide range of people with various levels of experience and skills.

Bonsai in its simplest terms is an attempt to represent nature itself in a small pot. A bonsai conveys the impression of an old huge tree, a forest or a landscape in nature. It is a miniaturized reproduction of nature, but at the same time a living tree. Nurturing such a small piece of nature over many years can become a source of pleasure and fascination.

It is a living art and you do end up living for Bonsai. Once you have established your representation of a real tree you find this creation develops and grows and evolves into something new and it is up to you to ensure you develop your Bonsai such that it retains the artistic impression you require. That’s the magic of this art form, that once created you don’t hang it on a wall or leave it for years to gather dust, you must maintain and ultimately enhance this creation to your satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the observer.

It is not surprising therefore that Bonsai Artists are becoming more recognised for their achievements as the art world realises the importance and stature of their work and also the diverse nature of the work they undertake.

An aspect of Bonsai which the general public seem somewhat naive about is the sculpturing of the trees in order to further their realism and artistic appearance. The creation of Jins and Sharis can be wholly beautiful and stunning. At times they are amazing representations of nature and at other times they are so alien to what we see in the wild that they can only be classed as artistic interpretation. Whatever your preference is when it comes to the carving, shaping and colouring of Bonsai, there can be no doubt as to the artistic influence that resonates when you view a quality creation.

What is also just as important is that the hobby is not restricted to individuals who were born with a genetic aptitude to “art”. Anyone with the right level of training and imagination can create a Bonsai which captures the imagination and which might evoke a wide variety of reactions. Sometimes "art" can simply be about creating reactions and in Bonsai this result can be achieved relatively easily. For example the impact a Bonsai creates when it exactly mirrors the work of nature in miniature in its simplest terms is what Bonsai is all about, whereas a Bonsai which represents nature in a wholly unique and eye catching manner might still result in a reaction even though some purists might not totally approve.

It is neither easy nor particularly hard to create a Bonsai, but it is difficult to create something that is classically a beautiful Bonsai and which those purists might delight in viewing. Such trees can take decades of nurturing and developing before they reach the right level of maturity and beauty. However, the joy an amateur enthusiast experiences after just a couple of seasons developing their trees is testament to the accessibility of this "art" to the masses.

The art of bonsai is a rewarding, creative hobby that can yield spectacular results. Good bonsai are valuable and rare and with the appropriate care can develop into spectacular works of art.

The name of this site "Living Bonsai" reflects our strongly held view that you don't just own a Bonsai you own a living and evolving work of art.

"Living Bonsai - Living Art"