Club Artists Workshop
Over the past 6 months, the officers of FWBS have been developing a new program for the members. The program is designed to improve the quality of bonsai art in FWBS through a comprehensive, regular, and long term engagement of a “Club Artist”. The thought is that seasonal work on the same tree over a period of two years with the same teacher is a better bonsai education than occasional visiting artists and expensive workshops.
Here is the Program:
• In March, July, and October, for 2011-2012, for a total of 6 programs, we will hold the Club Artist Workshop as our regular monthly meeting on the second Thursday. We will still meet in the regular room.
• Every member is invited to bring in 1 or 2 trees that they would like to work on for the next 2 years with the ‘Club Artists’***. Though not a fast rule, the idea is to bring in the same trees for all 6 workshops, improving each tree at every meeting.
• Photos of your trees will be taken when you arrive and when you leave the workshops. Your photos will be printed and brought back to the next meeting for you and the Club Artist to use to document improvement. The photos are yours to take home. After 2 years, it should be interesting to view the first photo again!
• During the workshop, “Minute Lessons” will pop up for everyone to listen to. These will be timely tidbits of bonsai information with an example right there for learning. • The workshop will begin at 6:30pm and end around 9:30 or earlier. A snack type dinner, such as Subway sandwiches, chips, and beverages, will be available at the kitchen area. • This program is FREE TO FWBS MEMBERS including the snack dinner.
The Club Artists:
The Club Artists are Howard & Sylvia Smith, both members of FWBS. They are officially #1(Howard) and #2(Sylvia) graduates of Boon Manakitivipart’s, a well-known US Bonsai Artist, intensive workshops in San Francisco a decade ago. Their bonsai trees have been featured in many publications and on internet sites in this country and beyond. They both displayed trees in the 1st USA National Exhibition in 2008. Howard has a tree currently featured in the gallery area of the Jan-Feb, 2011, issue of Bonsai Focus magazine.
Well-known in the local area, FWBS has awarded Sylvia the “Members Choice Award” in 2009, and Howard was awarded “Best of Show” at the 2010 Cowtown Bonsai Convention. Owners of Bonsai Smiths bonsai sales and services company, they have conducted workshops for many years. They are skilled in deciduous trees, tropicals, conifers, and pines, as well as bonsai display. We are fortunate they accepted the position of “Club Artists” for FWBS.
Benefits of the ‘Club Artist Workshop’:
• Every member now has an opportunity to take a tree and develop it with professional help into a nice bonsai. There is no question that you will have a nice tree after 2 years.
• Any type of tree or bonsai style is acceptable material.
• Your confidence in your bonsai skills will improve. Your new found confidence will translate over to your entire bonsai collection.
• This program should appeal to all members of FWBS, beginners as well as more experienced bonsai enthusiasts.
• The workshop setting allows you to learn from the other participants with a large variety of trees and styles. Watch everyone’s trees develop over 2 years and you will advance beyond your own collection.
• This is an entirely free program to FWBS members.
• Free photos of your trees will track the improvement over 2 years. “Before & After” shots will be quite enlightening.
• A free meal and great bonsai fellowship 3 times a year!
• The bonsai art in Fort Worth should improve dramatically.
• Our public shows will improve as our trees improve.
• We should increase our membership with this program.
Updates:
• The club has raw trees for sale if you need a tree to work on for this program.
• You can start this program at anytime through the year.
