francois jeker

    For me this was one of the most eagerly awaited weekends of the year, Francois Jeker one of the most respected Bonsai Artists in Europe came to Failand Hall to spend the weekend with ABBA members and guests. On Saturday morning Francois gave us a small slid show and a general talk on his Bonsai philosophy he also gave a great critique of the trees on show with very constructive ideas on some improvements.
Francois’s English was good and listening to him was like a breath of Bonsai fresh air, his ideas are very sympathetic to the tree and its style.
After a break for lunch we were treated to Francois styling a Pine that John Trot had brought along, possibly not the easiest of pieces but a good outcome with a high standard of attention to detail.

    A few of us stayed over for the second day and we enjoyed some eating and drinking in the local hostelry.

The second day the Sunday was a workshop with about ten of us working with Francois, it was a fantastic day with an incredible insight into the practical side of Francois techniques and methods including silk carving, burning, and preserving of dead wood. The attention to detail in the positioning of branches and ramification within a design. The thoughts on the improvement on what looked like a great Obtusa Nana, for which Mo then worked all day with a great result.
There were so many things that were learnt and observed, For me it was one of the special Bonsai days that I will remember forever.

    Thanks to everyone involved for making this a brilliant weekend, and a special thanks to Francois, please come back again and again and again.

During the w/e Dan Barton and his team of assessors held a RIBB's assessment.

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