I am definitely into natural. While I get wowed out by all the unreal bonsai creations somehow after seeing enough of them it all falls flat! Make it is "lets all be like the Master!" or is it "I haven't a clue what to do (I have been there recently!) and so I will do one like his!!!

What I would like to see done or even attempt it myself-I think I have a large enough tray and that is a forest scene!
even using small perennials to stimulate shrubs! with landscaping and maybe water??? there is just something about a bunch of trees even though most of the ones I have seen are just branches off of a stem tied down! Guess I need to google more to see what or if it has been done??

Here is one that I do not think is really bonsai???
{{gwi:10557}}
This is what I mean but on a large plate or tray!

It's called 'slab' forest planting, and why isn't it bonsai? The trees are natural looking, but try to imagine them each growing alone in a little pot. You might end up some of the time, at least, with something that looks like a 'Disney' tree, a bit like a cut-out stuck on to the background, rather than a real, dimensional tree, because without bonsai 'rules' (which, of course, are broken all the time, but only 'well' by people who know them and understand them) a lot of trees would not look good (or natural) at all. When you work with something so small, relative to the 'real' thing, all that foliage, etc. somehow takes on a different perspective. The horizon is not infinite, other trees within visual range do not always 'go' with the first one, placement at anything other than eye level immediately puts it 'in its place', etc. and in the end it may look more natural by following the rules than otherwise - kind of like what the architects of the Acropolis in Athens did... they actually leaned the pillars of the Parthenon inward (or outward... I forget!) by a few degrees, which when viewed against the skyline up on the hill, made it look absolutely straight, rather than otherwise, which tricks of distance and light would 'display'. Some trees do look good matching the real ones in the right setting, but not all do. I know what you mean about the nebari too ('sumo' trees), but while they're exaggerated (sometimes too much), it does make them look older, which is so much of the point in bonsai traditionally.

Brenden, your rant addresses many issues in the bonsai world. A pioneer, I guess you could call him, in the bonsai world for the "natural" style is Walter Pall. You may have heard of him. If you google his name, you'll find his website, and also many pictures accredited to his name. His trees often break the "rules" for bonsai, but you cannot argue that there is some genius behind each of the designs.

-Audric

Thanks Audric for the reference to Walter Pall.
He is definitely an inspiration! I do enjoy his
special use of sizing the plant down in order to
emphasize the working with the stem and branches.
He definitely breaks away from the straight line
symmetry that seems so common and boring.
Unfortunately digging up plants from the wild is not
something many can attempt! While I have often scoured the
local plant nurseries for interesting subjects it seems
that the only subjects that attract me would have to be
grown by yours truly to a minimal working size.

What happened to Rick's post? As I agree with the notion of using as old a plant as possible rather than younger plants. However, one must make do as one's budget allows!!
But with the younger plants the size of the pot can really make a difference in presentation.

Well not in front of a greenhouse. I would have though that was fairly obvious even to a non-bonsaist !!