Abstract bonsai art. I think there's a temptation to judge trees with elaborately carved deadwood. But maybe it's best to just appreciate the skill involved and not worry about too much deadwood or whether the result look like our sense of what's natural or not. Not to downplay the importance of bonsai the look like trees in nature, rather to appreciate the vast variety of approaches and results in our wonderful world of bonsai

Yesterday we featured Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s colorful side. Today we’ll touch upon his famous Sidao carving method and some results. Hopefully this will peak your interest. If it does, you can visit his website for more

Cheng, Cheng-Kung's Sidiao method in a nutshell. There's a lot more where this came from.

Just another Shimpaku with lots of deadwood? Well, maybe, but there's something unusual going on with the way foliage is configured

There a lot going on here. Movement, power and perhaps artistic freedom and a sense of relaxation (with getting too anthropomorphic about it). Is there anywhere else to go?

Cheng, Cheng-Kung's magnificent Ficus with its lovely old pot, has nothing to do with the Sidiao carving method. Just thought I'd throw it in because it's such a masterpiece bonsai

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