The Penjing of Robert Steven

Penjing and photographs by Robert Stephen

Robert Steven has been involved in the art of penjing since 1979 and has won more than 50 competition awards nationally and internationally. He is also very active in national and international bonsai and penjing organizations. His recent book Vision of My Soul brings his thoughts and his love for the art into the light they well deserve. Robert's profile here at the Art of Bonsai Project gives a closer view of his unique outlook.

Dyospiros montana. Length: 120 cm

Erethia microcarpa. Length: 100 cm

Ficus benjamina. Height: 65 cm

Casuarina equisetifolia. Height: 80 cm

Premna nauseose. Height: 70 cm

Casuarina equisetifolia. Height: 75 cm

Discuss this gallery >>Proflie: Robert Steven

Kaizen Bonsai

Kaizen Bonsai - Bonsai Mart

The bonsai growing season has started with a vengeance this year in the U.K. with beautiful warm dry sunshine for weeks now (at least in Norfolk).

Bonsai trees are bursting with life and look beautiful in their new clothes and this ushers in a busy time for us all. There's watering, fertilizing and pruning to be done almost daily and, with new growth everywhere keep a very keen eye out for pests like green and black fly and aphids as well as scale insects, these all love the warm weather as much as we do!Have a great summer and thanks for your continued support.

Graham Potter.

Watch Video Mr. Graham W Potter 

Bonsai Demonstration - A garden juniper becomes a bonsai tree - Part 1

Graham Potter (http://www.kaizenbonsai.com) styles a garden juniper for the first time.

The Penjing Of Peter Krebs

by Peter Krebs

Sometimes I step down into the ravine
mirrored by the green rivulet,
then again I sit at the ridge
on a mighty rock.
My mind resembles a lonely cloud
no place were it pauses,
in a far distance the dealings of the world -
what else would I have to search for? - Hanshan

Like a protecting roof this penjing arches over the scholar reading a book. A very harmonic composition! The pot is exceptional, with its age of almost 150 years. The glaze of the pot reminds us of the impermanence of things.

A zen verse says:

“Do not search for the master, search for what the master is searching for!”

This motto could still be made more poignant by changing it to: “Do not search for what the master is searching for, search for what you are searching for!”

Behind The Rules Of Bonsai Project

Robert Steven (Master Of Indonesia Bonsai)

In my intuition I find myself,

In myself I find freedom;

In nature I find the rule,

In the rule I find the wisdom.

 Obviously, all the textbook conventions for bonsai are derived from fundamental concepts of artistry and aesthetic principals of visual art. Among the aesthetic principals of visual art are line, form, color, texture, composition, dimension, perspective and balance. A working understanding of these concepts will enable us to freely create and innovate without hesitation because we understand the essence of the art and what these conventions refer to. Furthermore, a solid understanding of horticultural theory and natural rules is very important to our ability to simulate natural phenomena in a convincing manner.

Premna, A New Rising Star Of Bonsai in Indonesia

Premna, a new rising star of bonsai in Indonesia after Pemphis acidula and Casuarinas equisetifolia.

Premna is tropical and sub-tropical plant found in many countries e.g. China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia to Australia. There are about 200 different species with different leaf shapes and characters, but P. microphylla and P. serratifolia are the most favorite species for bonsai due to the physical character as well as the ideal leaves.  

Bonsai How The Called Good

By: Robert Stevens

Not all plants that we arbitrarily established and planted in pots can be called as a bonsai. A good Bonsai should meet some basic criteria, and bonsai as beautiful as anything if not accompanied by the appropriate container, it can not called as a good bonsai.

There are still many people who think that a good bonsai dwarf trees that formed just a neat and planted in pots, but to make a good bonsai work, many other disciplines who have under our control including knowledge of aesthetics of art, the science of botany including plant physiology and morphology and flair to observe natural phenomena.

Shuihan Penjing

By: Robert Stevens

Shuihan Penjing is one style in a very popular Chinese Penjing with panoramic view of nature nuanced danao or river edge. Penjing Shuihan uniqueness lies in the use of container planting a thin pot made of white marble to reinforce the impression of surface water in the work.

Shui = Water, Han = Mainland; Shuihan Penjing = Penjing featuring views of water and land.

Shuihan Penjing is one of the styles in China Penjing which show both a natural panorama nuanced danao or river banks with trees as the main object element.

Philosophy is the basis of Shuihan Penjing "Yuan zi ran yi, yi gao zi ran” (Inspiration from nature and refers to the perfection of nature).

Bonsai and Penjing

By: Robert Stevens

Many have asked: whether the same Penjing Bonsai?

The answer is "yes" and "no", depending on the context in which we membicakannya.

Until recently, in many countries, including in Indonesia, there is still much mistaken about the definition of "Penjing." Many consider all the nuances of Bonsai landscape or panorama is Penjing, style grouping who wore a thin pot is Penjing, or there are no statues, pagodas or accessories are Penjing. Though not the case.

We can see there are many who equate art with Bonsai Penjing; but at other times, discuss Penjing as an art form with the understanding that the concept is not clear; even consider Bonsai and Penjing can not contest the joint.

Art & Philosophy Bunjin In Style Bonsai

by steven robert

"The dance of nature full of meaning,

Universe radiant smile stunned ...

When liukan passionate body,

Jalangku glance resist temptation ... "

So far, there is a misguided sense of style "Bunjin" in Bonsai. Some say Bunjin style is the style of "old old", Bonsai should be impressed skinny, tall, dark and miserable ... I do not understand, where the origin of these terms, may only own custom, though, this style is clearly referred to as "Bunjin" (Bh. Japan) or "Literati" (Bh. UK) which means "poet"; in bh. Mandarin is called "Wen-ren."