I did not sign up for any particular workshop at this convention. I was interested in the tamarix dig but, I had a busy week and could not get that Wednesday off. The only course that was semi interesting for my personal learning was the shohin trident maple by Peter Macasieb on Thursday afternoon. I did hear the suiseki hunt excursion had a blast, they were able to get into several areas before the end of the session.
Saturday was a different story. I had a chance to walk into most of all the workshops and become silent observer. I did learn several things from each workshop leader.
Here is David Nguy at the California Juniper workshop. These trees were pretty big and healthy. David went around giving pointers and suggestion on how to shape the tree for its first styling. I'm not sure if I could follow at the speed of this workshop. The cleaning and thinning of the foliage alone would have taken me forever or most of the workshop time.
Next door was Tak Shimazu Twisted Pomegranate workshop. When I walked in, they were already started to shape the pads out on all of the trees. From the photo you can tell that these trees were going to be large trees.
Peter Macasieb helped out Tak during this workshop. Peter is being a great student of Tak and giving him a helping hand. I thought having 2 workshop leaders was great because it gave more one on one time per student per plant. It also gave multiple point of view.
The messiest workshop hands down was the Carved Root Stand workshop. Not to say that was a bad thing. But, for a split second I felt for the clean up crew that day. Sean workshop was truly hands-on, each participant made a rough root stand before they left the workshop. The blanks were preslugged but gave each participant the opportunity to make each of the stands unique to the carver.
From the look at this photo, you can tell that every participant were dusted with saw dust from the stand they just made. JT had just dusted himself before I had a chance to get the full effect of the dust bomb that went off on him.
Here is a sample of the root stand from the workshop. Talking to JT, he said he was going home to do fine sanding and staining. He also said it was a good workshop for the basic and going to try to make a larger one.
The shohin Shimpaku workshop was crowded with helpers. I know the program said Tak Shimazu, but Fred Miyahara and Peter Macasieb was in the mix helping out. It was fun watching so many different hands working on so many different shohin size trees.
Tak did not like me taking photos of him while he was working. Everytime I would swing by he would say, "No more pictures" in his joking ways. At least his wife convinced him to pose for the photo.
I know someone is getting a free styling of this tree!
Janice was having a great time at the shohin shimpaku workshop!
Finally, I have for you all is Mel Ikeda's Tomodashi or Mel Ikeda's Friends!
Leila Kusumi working on a boxwood.
Bob Hilvers working on a California Pygmy Cypress.
Here is Mel and his students working on his trademark raft style training box.
Kathy Shaner working on a Chinese Elm.
Last of the pictures of course is our Lindsay Shiba working on a Yose-ue or group planting.
Picture of the final product on the auction table.
Well, thats it for workshops. If you have the opportunity to attend the convention next year, might want to take a workshop or two.