Bonsai trees Some of Maura's competition

[panam]

Phillip, even without the great bonsai you and Yew shared, WOW! How often does one get to use "chiaroscura" in a conversation?! That, in itself, was great!

[Phillip C]

Patty, I am told by Maura that I misused chiaoscura in that it is a term used to describe a technique in painting and other forms of art. It's compositional element, used by artists to exaggerate the difference between light and dark - or something like that. It is an art term that I hate to tell you I misused. I am not sure it has a name, but I like to see trees, especially bare trees against a fading sky. It makes me feel good inside. You probably knew what chiaoscura was and were polite enough not to point it out. Thank you, Phillip

[Raver]

THey are so pretty, i especially like the cypress.

[mauraec]

Patty, I am told by Maura that I misused chiaoscura in that it is a term used to describe a technique in painting and other forms of art. It's compositional element, used by artists to exaggerate the difference between light and dark - or something like that. It is an art term that I hate to tell you I misused. I am not sure it has a name, but I like to see trees, especially bare trees against a fading sky. It makes me feel good inside. You probably knew what chiaoscura was and were polite enough not to point it out. Thank you, Phillip

Okay, if we are going to use art terminology here, we are going to use it correctly and spell it properly. First of all, the word is "chiaroscuro", which, in Italian, means "light-dark". Chiaroscuro is used first and foremost to describe the exaggeration of light contrasting with darkness in order to produce a more dramatic representation of the subject matter. The contrast of trees silhouetted against a sky is a common occasion for artists to use chiaroscuro to good effect - the opposite is also true - chiaroscuro is used frequently in classical and neoclassical paintings of light streaming through a break in the trees and shining onto the ground below. The use of the term chiaroscuro with regard to a purely natural phenomenon as observed may be quite literally correct in terms of the observer's impression, but does not constitute the accepted meaning of chiaroscuro as an artistic rendering of a particular subject.

There... Now, my constant internal editor and professor can rest, and I merely emphasize that while the spelling in posts immediately preceding this is unambiguously incorrect, the term itself has been used colloquially, really, rather than completely incorrectly. Phillip is very likely to produce some wonderful bonsai photography using chiaroscuro in its purest sense. I, on the other hand, may use it in attempts to paint my orchids - all theoretical and pretty irrelevant at this point, but that's an argument often made wherein academia is concerned.

[Phillip C]

I can pronounce it better than spell it, but that is true in so many instances. I didn't win many spelling bee's and in addition to poor spelling am a perfectly horrible typist. I do speak a bit better than my spelling or typing. Spelling and math were two of my weaker subjects, perhaps why I went first into forestry then into trial law. Adding machines and the spoken word. Unfortunately for all of you, you must endure my misspelled words, typo's and the occasional use of words they didn't use when I grew up in Alabama. Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding. (Practice now....chiaroscuro... fifty times on the blackboard.)

I do dabble in photography, shooting things that appeal to me. Those shots earlier in this post were hurried snapshots and I can do better most of the time. I'm glad photography doesn't involve spelling or typing, I'll just keep shooting things like to look at whether they be chiaroscuro or not. And it may have been colloquially to use it in the post, but it was fun, and it's not a word one runs across colloquially or classically very often, Have fun, Phillip

[Cjcorner]

Wow! The picture with them all in a group...it's like laying on your back and looking at the clouds. Each has it's own unique rounded shape. The suprising bonsai was the parsley. Suprising but such a beauty. Great pics. Thank You for sharing...I wish they would do a bonsai garden in my area. Too pretty....

[Phillip C]

Hi Connie, I bet there are Bonsai groups in your area, bound to be. Look up Bonsai in the Yellow Pages or do a google search. Phillip

[mujacko2002]

Mabuhay!

I have always appreciate the art of bonsai. I am at awe whenever i see stunning setups. Congrats!

[kiwiorchids]

Bonsai are my bane. I have tried, and failed. Tried and failed. Tried and failed. This could go on for hours on the thread! Anyways, i have given up until i can get the time to tend to these stately and elegant trees....