Out of the 94 people that contributed to this survey during April, 1999, the INFORMAL UPRIGHT STYLE was voted the most popular. The main reasons suggested for this being such a suitable style was its close resemblance with most trees growing in nature, the variations which can be obtained when using this style and the wide amount of species which can be easily trained into informal upright, producing very effective bonsai. Suprisingly, informal upright was voted just ahead of the LITERATI/BUNJIN style - which, as a naturalistic style which breaks many bonsai rules is well known from its depiction on Chinese paintings. Conifers are plants most suited to literati, where jins are an important part of the design and the trunk usually curves and twists many times. The other two styles commonly mentioned were FOREST and WINDSWEPT.

Opinions :

Khaimraj Seepersad from the San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, says :

31-40 years old, practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

INFORMAL UPRIGHT. Most of the trees in Trinidad are naturally informals. On the savannahs they are a welcome relief from the Hot sun. Hence memories, hence preference for style

Joe Ireson from zone 7, Birmingham, US, says :

41-50 years old, practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

FOREST. This style of bonsai is the one which, in my opinion, is the most beautiful and natural of all bonsai styles - invoking a sense of pure harmony and looking very genuinely like a true, miniature woodland. I have many bonsai in this style.

Brennen Noble from zone 7-8, Fort Worth, US, says :

under 20 years old, practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

LITERATI/BUNJIN. I like the stark beauty of the literati (bunjin) style. The trees are amazingly elaborate and have a mind boggling beauty. I like forests too. They are beautiful and are the most realistic and natural of the styles.

Dave Flagg from zone 6, US, says :

31-40 years old, practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

WINDSWEPT. The windswept style represents a tree's struggle with its elements. It is challenging for the artist to try to convincingly recreate the life and death struggle in his tree, as well as to visually bring the viewer into the harsh elements and become part of that struggle.

Jim Harwood from zone 7, HotSprings, AR, US, says :

LITERATI/BUNJIN. Good literati is the essence of simplicity. I know a good literati when I see it, but only one in a hundred are really good and I still don't have one that satisfys me.

John Mellanby from Aberdeen, UK, says :

61-70 years old, practicing bonsai for over 10 years.

INFORMAL UPRIGHT. I got into bonsai because I like trees and this is the 'style' of tree I am most familiar with.

Wolf from zone 8-9, Ben Lomond, Ca, US, says :

41-50 years old, beginner at bonsai.

WINDSWEPT. I love the wild, fierce look of this style. It evokes a feeling of tenacity, of perseverence against all odds.

Stephen Otten from Summerville, S.C., US, says :

51-60 years old, practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

INFORMAL UPRIGHT. I find the informal upright style to be the most pleasing to these old eyes. However I do like the windswept look as well.

Madhukar Nath from Indore, India, says :

31-40 years old, practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

FORMAL UPRIGHT. Formal upright style is comparatively easy to develop. Most of the trees in this region have a natural tendency to grow upright. I prefer this style so that the trees do not loose their natural look and it is easy and comparatively quicker to train and grow plants in this style. I also like to grow cascade style, but it has certain reservations in this region as plants which have a natural inclination to grow like this are difficult to get and the only couple of varieties such as juniper and pine needs a lot of care, especially during summers when the temperature runs as high as 45 degrees centigrade.

Pete Hare from Newark, Notts, UK, says :

51-60 years old, practicing bonsai for over 5 years.

INFORMAL UPRIGHT. It has the greatest possible variations and is most tree like.

Clint Hathaway from USDA Zone 9, Bridge City, TX, US, says :

41-50 years old, practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

ROOT OVER ROCK. I'm impressed with all Root-Over-Rock styles. To me, the personality of each tree is divulged by exposing the nebari, thus creating a noble depiction of its tenacious will to live.

Jerry Saville from Zone 7, Bethany, OK, US, says :

31-40 years old, beginner at bonsai.

INFORMAL UPRIGHT. I like the informal upright because it lends itself to many types of trees. Almost any tree can be styled in this style.

John Bullis from Zone 7a, Washington, DC, US, says :

31-40 years old, practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

LITERATI/BUNJIN. The sparce foliage, meandering trunkline, and jagged shari of the solitary bunjin conifer, to me, fully embodies the spirit of bonsai. The struggle of the stubborn tree against nature is exemplified. For the same reasons, windswept would be my next favorite.

Mick Saunders from Essex, Harlow, UK, says :

41-50 years old, practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

LITERATI/BUNJIN. It is free but with discipline.

Todd Nolte from zone 4, Fargo ND, US, says :

21-30 years old, beginner at bonsai.

BROOM. I prefer the broom style for several reasons. In my limited experience thus far, it is a style that I can create!! But, I can find the most inspiration from nature for this style, as all of the trees that grow in the woods behind my home are deciduous, canopy-forming trees. Most of these would be described as brooms (American Elms, Ashes) with some formal uprights (Bur oaks, ironwoods).

Steve from Orlando, US, says :

Steve's Website : under 20 years old, practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

GROUP/FOREST. I like forest styles because I think it looks much more realistic then a single tree.

Richmond Futch from Rochester, US, says :

41-50 years old, beginner at bonsai.

GROUP/FOREST. It's like making a small world of your own.

 

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