Wire Tree Sculpture
Bonsai Art or Craft?
Call it either one. Art or craft, I thought you may enjoy seeing these wire tree sculpture bonsai and I added them as an extension of the
bonsai art page.
Our bonsai journey often takes us to places we least expect! Ken To began his bonsai life, like so many, with a 'mall' tree. I met Ken through Facebook and I asked him to tell me how it came about. “I got into bonsai in 2007 when my son, who was three years old at the time, saw a mallsai in the Wal-mart garden center and wanted it to buy it.
We both liked the mudman sitting next to the juniper whip so I decided to shell out the $12 to buy it. The mudman had a broken arm, but I thought maybe I could buy another mudman to replace it. The search for a replacement mudman was where my addiction to bonsai really started.” From that little juniper, Ken has come a long way. He now creates lovely bonsai such as the Tecomaria capensis shown here. During that time, he also became enchanted with wire trees.
The Wire Trees
“ I made my first wire tree sculpture during Christmas of 2007 as a gift for my wife.In February of 2010, I made my wife a second tree for Valentine’s Day. My technique had improved by then but I still didn’t have the right wire . . . I finally found the perfect wire for my needs and started making the trees in abundance. I always do things in abundance when I’m learning something. It was the same as when I first learned bonsai, I knew the only way to get better was through perpetual practice. ”
Notice that Ken does not skimp when it comes to his small bonsai containers. Many of them are from California's Jim Barrett, well known for his quality shohin and mame pots.
“Just as it is in bonsai, it takes a lot of time and practice to understand the material and respect it.
While my passion is still with live bonsai trees, these wire trees help me hone my styling skills. I never get bored learning anything related to bonsai.”
Since his first wire trees, almost five years ago, Ken has been busy experimenting and perfecting his technique.
Ken To's latest wire tree sculpture is with gold wire.

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