Ho Yoku School of Bonsai: Course Overview

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COURSE OVERVIEW
The course is structured to give you the skills and knowledge to eventually become a proficient bonsai artist in your own right. Although the knowledge is necessary, it is not enough on its own. As with any discipline, from playing a musical instrument to hitting a baseball - practice is the key, so you will be expected to be productive as well as attentive.

As the course progresses you will be encouraged to work more on your own and following a direction that suits your own particular ambitions. This applies not only to the trees themselves, but also to every other aspect of bonsai culture.

The following gives you abroad outline of what will be covered.

TECHNIQUES
For a variety of reasons, clubs, nurseries and books (even some of those I have written) tend to simplify the techniques they teach. But there are bad ways, good ways and better ways, and usually the quality of your bonsai depends greatly on the correct application of techniques you employ. The School always teaches and expects techniques to be the very best in the belief that pride in workmanship leads to pride in results. Wiring
Pruning
Pinching
Repotting
Deadwood

PLANT MATERIAL
Up to seventy percent of the eventual qualiity of any bonsai depends on the quality of the original raw plant material. Sometimes good bonsai material can be expensive, at other times it can be very cheeap - even free. Emphasis is placed on how and where to acquire good bonsai material, while considering the financial constraints of individual student's budget. Species suitability
Size and age
Sources
Preparation

HARDWARE
Some bonsai enthusiasts rush out and but every tool available, others search out the cheapest and still others struggle along with ordinary household tools. Neither is right. It is important to buy only what you need, but to buy the best you can to obtain the best results. The same applies to everything else you use for your bonsai, from the soil recipe to the type of watering can. Tools & equipment
Soils
Containers
In the garden

HORTICULTURE
Contrary to common belief, bonsai are not plants that are stunted by captivity or malnutrition, quite the opposite. All bonsai manipulation relies entirely on the plant's natural responses to your interventions, and the predictability and strength of response depends on the timing and especially the health of the plant. You will learn how to keep your trees in maximum health and vigor, how different species function and how to use this knowledge to your advantage. Roots and soils
Feeding
Watering
Sun & shade
Tree mechanics

DESIGN
Through frequent use of peer group critiques, students develop the ability to spot both the flaws and the potential in untrained and semi-trained material and to determine the best way forward. You will learn how to analyze the final bonsai image and how to improve it; how to pay attention to the small details that can have a greater impact on the overall aesthetics; and how to apply your intuitive sense of design to the art of bonsai. This is the one area of bonsai that is truly infinite, and everyone, from novice to master, is continually learning. Established styles
Trunk & branch lines
Balance & harmony
Using emotion
Creativity

Visit the Colin Lewis website at http://www.colinlewisbonsai.com


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	COURSE OVERVIEW The course is structured to give you the skills and knowledge to eventually become a proficient bonsai artist in your own right. Although the knowledge is necessary, it is not enough on its own. As with any discipline, from playing a musical instrument to hitting a baseball - practice is the key, so you will be expected to be productive as well as attentive. As the course progresses you will be encouraged to work more on your own and following a direction that suits your own particular ambitions. This applies not only to the trees themselves, but also to every other aspect of bonsai culture. The following gives you abroad outline of what will be covered.
	TECHNIQUES For a variety of reasons, clubs, nurseries and books (even some of those I have written) tend to simplify the techniques they teach. But there are bad ways, good ways and better ways, and usually the quality of your bonsai depends greatly on the correct application of techniques you employ. The School always teaches and expects techniques to be the very best in the belief that pride in workmanship leads to pride in results.	Wiring Pruning Pinching Repotting Deadwood
	PLANT MATERIAL Up to seventy percent of the eventual qualiity of any bonsai depends on the quality of the original raw plant material. Sometimes good bonsai material can be expensive, at other times it can be very cheeap - even free. Emphasis is placed on how and where to acquire good bonsai material, while considering the financial constraints of individual student's budget.	Species suitability Size and age Sources Preparation
	HARDWARE Some bonsai enthusiasts rush out and but every tool available, others search out the cheapest and still others struggle along with ordinary household tools. Neither is right. It is important to buy only what you need, but to buy the best you can to obtain the best results. The same applies to everything else you use for your bonsai, from the soil recipe to the type of watering can.	Tools & equipment Soils Containers In the garden
	HORTICULTURE Contrary to common belief, bonsai are not plants that are stunted by captivity or malnutrition, quite the opposite. All bonsai manipulation relies entirely on the plant's natural responses to your interventions, and the predictability and strength of response depends on the timing and especially the health of the plant. You will learn how to keep your trees in maximum health and vigor, how different species function and how to use this knowledge to your advantage.	Roots and soils Feeding Watering Sun & shade Tree mechanics
	DESIGN Through frequent use of peer group critiques, students develop the ability to spot both the flaws and the potential in untrained and semi-trained material and to determine the best way forward. You will learn how to analyze the final bonsai image and how to improve it; how to pay attention to the small details that can have a greater impact on the overall aesthetics; and how to apply your intuitive sense of design to the art of bonsai. This is the one area of bonsai that is truly infinite, and everyone, from novice to master, is continually learning.	Established styles Trunk & branch lines Balance & harmony Using emotion Creativity