Bonsai Basic Design

Bonsai
Artistic representation of a mature tree in
nature
“A story in the telling”
 Goal of Bonsai Design

To create an arrangement of visually pleasing

artistic components:

 Roots, trunk, branches, foliage, negative space

 Pot and accessories.
Visual Elements of Design

 Line
 Form
 Texture
 Color
 Line

• Expressed by movement of the trunk

• Defines the style of the tree:

Formal upright
Informal upright
Windswept
Cascade, etc.
Formal Upright
Formal Upright
Formal Upright
Informal Upright
Informal Upright
Semi Cascade
Semi Cascade
Cascade
Slant Style
Broom Style
 Form

 Branch position, length & arrangement

 Outline or shape of the tree

 Texture

 Quality of bark and foliage

 Defines character of masculinity or femininity

Masculine
Masculine
Feminine
Feminine
 Color

 Defines a trees character

 Tree health
 Principles of Design
 Proportion
 Balance
 Movement
 Space
 Emphasis
 Simplicity
 Contrast
 Unity
 Proportion

 Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.

 Golden ratio „Rule of thirds‟

Golden Ratio of thirds
Trunk Height
Trunk width
Branch ratios
Branch Length
 Balance

Visual balance may not have physical balance

Asymmetrical balance more dynamic/interesting

Consider effects of value, color, shape, texture and

position
 Balance by value
 Smaller darker can balance larger lighter
 Balance by color
 Smaller brighter can balance larger more neutral
colors
 Balance by shape
 Smaller complicated shapes can balance larger
simple shapes
 Balance by texture
 Smaller rougher, complex surfaces can balance
larger smoother surfaces
 Balance by position
 Small object far from center can balance larger
object nearer to center
Balance of visual mass
Balance in a container
Tree Position in Container
 Movement
 The directional path of our eyes
 Usually trunk and/or branch line
 Space
 Interval or distance between elements

 Negative space an important design component

Has weight and mass
Adds to the illusion of depth
Principles of balance apply
 Emphasis
 Intended focus of the design
 Simplicity
 Removal of distracting or non essential design
elements
 Contrast
 Branch line and trunk movement
 Color difference of foliage and trunk
 Textures difference of trunk and deadwood
 Surface: difference of trunk and stone, moss and
top dressing
 Unity
 Repetition of similar elements creates rhythm
 Triangle most common element
 Continuity of trunk style
 Continuity of trunk/branch relationship
Repetition of the triangle as the
visual element
Discontinuity of trunk line
Continuity of trunk line
Continuity of trunk/branch
Unity of trunk movement
 References
 Bonsai Techniques I, John Yoshio Naka
pp. 15-28
 Basic Bonsai Design, David De Groot
pp. 1-37
 Journal of the American Bonsai Society,
Vol. 42 #4 pp. 20-26,
Vol. 43 #1 pp. 15-15