Finding your “front”
“If you can't find the front, instead find the back and then rotate it 180 degrees.” - Johnb Naka
“A typical bonsai tree is often compared to a sumo fighter ready for a match. The rise (from foot to waist) flows backward, and from there to the crown (or head in case of the sumo player), the tree shape gradually flows forward. That is generally considered a good tree shape.
In other words, where the rise is more backwards is called the back, and the part where the crown is more prominent is considered the front. This is how the front of a grown tree is decided, but when it comes to a tree being trained or shohin bonsai, most of times you can decide by yourself.”
“When bonsai artist speak to movement in their design, it really begins with the trunkline. Whether the trunk is more feminine— tall, with slender, gentle turns— or masculine—short and thick, with aggressive angles—the character in the primary trunkline, starting from the base and rising to the apex, is the backbone of the overall bonsai design.“. — Bonsai Mirai
