Win your Free Bonsai Trip to Puerto Rico…
The ofBonsai Magazine Proudly Present Our Second
Progressive Bonsai Styling Contest
Sponsored by RYUGA Bonsai Tools and co-sponsored by International Bonsai magazine.
The contest objective is to obtain raw stock and style it into a presentable bonsai within the time frame allotted by the rules below. There is no price limit on stock.
Each entry will consist of three parts containing the following as outlined in the rules below:
- Three “before” photographs submitted with accompanying descriptive text, as outlined in the rules below.
- Three progression photographs submitted with accompanying descriptive text, as outlined in the rules below.
- Three final photographs submitted with accompanying descriptive text as outlined in the rules below.
You need not be a member of the ofBonsai Magazine to enter. This contest, like all of the content on ofBonsai, is free, viewable, and open to all who are interested. Those that wish to participate in discussions on the contest or other topics on the site will be required to join in order to comment.
Please read all rules before submitting your entry and refer back to them before submitting your before, progression, or final photographs in order to prevent misunderstandings or needless disqualification. Most of all enjoy yourselves and have fun!
Entrants may enter as often as they like, providing each entry is of a different tree and abides by the rules of this contest.
Contest void where prohibited by law.
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Everyone must start with Raw Stock
Although there is no limit on stock used, the creative process from the original raw stock is one of the judging aspects so the use of raw nursery stock or raw collected stock is required. Please note the stock must never have been trimmed or prepped in any way for bonsai.
All styling work must be your own; workshop trees will be disqualified. Soliciting and/or receiving advice from others will be cause for disqualification. Sorry, no virtuals are allowed.
All work must be done on the stock within the time frame allotted in the contest rules. Work done before the contest start date will disqualify the entrant. Photos of work done on a bonsai prior to the contest dates will be disqualified.
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The dynamic prize list can be seen in the next tab and all contest sponsors ads can be found around the contest section of ofBonsai Magazine.
We wish to thank the many sponsors who have donated prizes to this contest. Please take a moment to pay them a visit or drop them a note of thanks. Without these patrons of bonsai the art would be less, not to mention the contests. For this contest we have specifically requested that only gift certificates be donated. In this way we save the sponsors the hassle and expense of shipping for a worldwide contest and assure that the winners receive prizes that they actually can use and appreciate.
Exceptions will be made for books.
ofBonsai Magazine will be the sole distributor of the prizes and will notify the sponsors of the winners. We ask that the entrants do not contact the sponsors regarding prize distribution; they will only refer you back to us. Those who take it upon themselves to collect prizes will be disqualified.
Prizes will be announced and awarded to the winner.
Judging
Our Judges are:
Bjorn Bjorholm
William Valavanis
Judging will be on the image presented in the final photographs. Only the created bonsai will be judged and the bjo will be asked to ignore containers, pots, or boxes as the nature and time frame of the contest may prevent both major styling and re-potting to be completed at the same time.
Once the final deadline has passed the judges will review all qualified entries and assign each entry a sum of points:0 to 10 points for selection of material
- 0 to 10 points for selection of material
- 0 to 10 points for final design
- 0 to 10 points for technique
- 0 to 10 points for originality
The entry with the most over all total points will be named the Grand Winner. In the case of a tie, the judges will reevaluate the tied entries and assign points again. The entry with the most total points assigned after the second scoring will be named the Grand Winner.
The judges will decide upon which bonsai presented is the most original design and that entry will be named the Most Original Design Winner.
The judges will post with the winners a brief commentary of each winner stating the reasons points were given and their personal thoughts on the entry.
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The prize distribution could change at any time
Grand Winner
The winner will be the entry having the highest sum of total points awarded by the judges. The Grand Winner will be chosen from all entries entered to the contest. This winner will not receive any additional prizes.
- One free economy class round-trip air-ticket from/back to main international airport of the winner’s country to Puerto Rico sponsored by RYUGA Bonsai Tools.
- Free entrance tickets to the FELAB Convention in Puerto Rico; sponsored by RYUGA Bonsai Tools.
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai cutting tools.
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai carving tools.
- One year free subscription of International Bonsai magazine.
The airline flights will be decided by RYUGA in further arrangement. The convention will be on 12th – 17th August 2014.
In case the Grand Winner is unable to go on the trip, the prize of the air-ticket, the hotel accommodation and the free entrance ticket can be endorsed to another person, but cannot be refunded for cash.
The following prize placements will be determined after the grand prize winner is removed from the running.
1st Place Conifers
- One year free subscription of International Bonsai magazine.
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai cutting tools.
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai carving tools.
- $100 gift certificate good at www.hollowcreekbonsai.com or at the nursery
- 1 month subscription to BonsaiTodayOnline.net
- 18×24 inch Sumi-e Painting on rice-paper, suitable for framing, of the wining tree from Stacy Allen Muse
- 5.5 Gallons of Bonsai Soil from BonsaiSmith
- This suiseki, This is either a hut stone or a plateau stone similar to Mt. Roraima. Found in Ohio and daiza made by Mitch Boatman of Black Walnut. It measures 4.5 inches long and 3 inches tall. From CedarBog Bonsai.
2nd Place Conifers
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai carving tools.
- 1 month subscription to BonsaiTodayOnline.net
- 18×24 inch Sumi-e Painting on rice-paper, suitable for framing, of the wining tree from Stacy Allen Muse
- 5.5 Gallons of Bonsai Soil from BonsaiSmith
1st Place Deciduous
- One year free subscription of International Bonsai magazine.
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai cutting tools.
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai carving tools.
- $50 credit towards your order from Rob Addonizio of Taiko-earth Pottery
- 1 month subscription to BonsaiTodayOnline.net
- 18×24 inch Sumi-e Painting on rice-paper, suitable for framing, of the wining tree from Stacy Allen Muse
- 5.5 Gallons of Bonsai Soil from BonsaiSmith
- This suiseki, This is a mountain stone in black walnut daiza all made and found by Mitch Boatman from sources in southern Ohio. It measures 6.5 inches long and 2 inches tall From CedarBog Bonsai.
2nd Place Deciduous
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai cutting tools.
- 1 month subscription to BonsaiTodayOnline.net
- 18×24 inch Sumi-e Painting on rice-paper, suitable for framing, of the wining tree from Stacy Allen Muse
- 5.5 Gallons of Bonsai Soil from BonsaiSmith
Most original Design Award
- One Gift-Set of RYUGA bonsai carving tools.
- Set of 5 Stone Lantern Bonsai Books (Pines, Junipers, Bonsai From The Wild, The Magician & Shohin Bonsai) donated by Stone Lantern Publishing
- 1 month subscription to BonsaiTodayOnline.net
- 18×24 inch Sumi-e Painting on rice-paper, suitable for framing, of the wining tree from Stacy Allen Muse
- 1$100 gift certificate toward the purchase of pots from Michelle Dougherty
- This pot from Sara Rayner Bonsai Pottery
- 5.5 Gallons of Bonsai Soil from BonsaiSmith
Inspiration Prize (lowest score)
- 1 month subscription to BonsaiTodayOnline.net
- 18×24 inch Sumi-e Painting on rice-paper, suitable for framing, of the wining tree from Stacy Allen Muse
(Prizes are subject to change and/or be redistributed due to the addition of more)
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Submissions must be made by email to paul [at] ofbonsai [dot] org by the deadlines stated in the rules below. Entries that are late will be disqualified. Your entry should be posted within 24 hours. If you do not see your submission posted within 24 hours of the time you sent it, contact Paul Stokes at the email address above.
Upon receipt of submissions, Paul will post them in the entry post located here in the order they were received. As the progression photographs and the final photographs are received he will add them to the original posts containing each entrant’s “before” photograph and send acknowledgments for each.
[box_alert]Each submission must be accompanied by text as described below. Submissions without the required text will be disqualified. All entries must be accompanied with the following information:
Entrant’s full name
Complete address with telephone number and email address (in case you win)
Common and Latin name of species
Starting and finished height of tree
Pot source, if used
Accompanying descriptive text, as outlined in the rules below.
Original entries, the following progression, and the final entries must all contain the above information. Those without will be disqualified.
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Photographs must be at least 1000 pixles on the widest dimention. Entries not meeting this standard, will be disqualified. Photographs must be clear, in focus, and without a distracting background. Photographs can be submitted in tif, jpg, or png format.
Before Photographs
“Before” photographs of the stock must be received no later than midnight (CST or GMT -5) August 15, 2013 in order to enter the contest.
At least three “before” pictures of your stock must be submitted, each showing a different side of the stock. At least one picture must include a local newspaper to show the date that the picture was taken.
The before pictures submission must include at least one paragraph or more of text describing the species, height of the raw stock, where it was obtained, and the reasons for selecting it as stock for this contest. The text must also briefly explain what you see in the stock and the direction you hope to take with it.
Receipt of the before pictures will officially mark you as a participant and enter you in the contest.
Progression Photographs
Before the final contest deadline expires three sets of progression photographs, in addition to the final photographs, must be submitted that represent the progression of the work to completion of the entry.
The progression photographs will show the work completed though the design process. This photograph of the front of the tree must be submitted with at least one paragraph explaining the work completed so far, the reasons behind it and any other information you feel is pertinent to our understanding of the process. More than one photograph may be submitted if you desire, however only one is mandatory.
Progression photographs must be received no later than midnight (CST or GMT -5) January 15, 2014.
Final Photographs
Final photographs of the completed bonsai must be received no later than midnight (CST or GMT -5) April 15, 2014. Entrants who miss this deadline for submitting the final photographs of their entry will be disqualified.
Three pictures of your completed bonsai must be submitted, each showing a different side of the stock.
The three final pictures must include at least one paragraph or more of text describing the final outcome, overall impression of the work done, and what is planned for the future of the tree.
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PERMISSIONS, COPYRIGHTS, and LEGAL NOTICES
As with all content at the ofBonsai Magazine, all copyrights remain with the author or photographer.
By entering this contest you agree to the terms of use and give full permission for use of all text and photographs for publication by the ofBonsai Magazine, RYUGA Bonsai Tools and International Bonsai. By entering this contest, you agree to accept the rules and amended rules for the contest as posted and also agree to accept the decisions of the ofBonsai staff, editors, and judges concerning cases not clearly covered in the rules. By entering this contest you also agree to accept the decisions of the judges, whatever they may be and release ofBonsai, RYUGA Bonsai Tools or International Bonsai their staff, editors, and the judges of this contest from any liability or damages regarding or resulting from this contest.
All decisions of the judges are final. Contest void where prohibited by law.
Good luck and have fun![/tab][tab title=”FAQ”]
- What kind of stock and I use for this competition? Only raw stock
- Can I submit more than one tree? Yes
- Do I have to wait until August to star working on my tree? No, you can start working on you tree as soon as your entry is accepted, the sooner you enter the longer you have to work!
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“raw stock” means nursery tree only or is it ok to use a collected yamadori?
Emmanuel, Collected material is ok as long as all that was done during collection was to make sure the tree survived.
Also check here for other contest to win your free bonsai trip to Puerto Rico : http://www.ryugabonsaitools.blogspot.com
Two quick questions, I have a collected hibiscus however I’m unsure of the exact variety, and I have also posted the pics on ausbonsai however have not received any virts or specific advice, does this disqualify me? I am happy to remove of the forum?
Angus,
The exact variety is less important than the species.
As long as you have not gotten any advice from the forum you posted to it would be ok and yes you should remove it from there if you plan on entering it.
Hi, I have this material that I have worked on about two weeks ago and I would like to join it to the contest. It had met all of the requirements except for one, the photograph of the raw material with
a local newspaper to prove the date of the “before” photo of the tree. I just read your article about the ryuga 2013 bonsai progression contest and was hoping to join it with this tree (a maba buxifolia). But to prove the legality of the before photo,the file name of the photographs I took states the date of the photo was taken. also the photos are posted in our facebook page Cavite Bonsai Club to prove its authenticity. Thank you
Sorry but you must meet all of the requirements to enter, you have until August to find some stock.
Is the contest limited to one entry per person? Can one enter more than one tree?
People can enter as many times as they have stock for.
So I have a tree that I just repotted and cleaned up dead branches, but have not done any styling on yet. Does this work? Thanks.
As long as you haven’t done any styling it would be fine to enter.
How do I enter. I live in Florida USA?
First make sure your stock tree meets the requirements as stated on the stock tab above, then take pictures that meet the requirements in the photographs tab above, then submit to me using the info on the submissions tab above. I strongly suggest that you read all of the rules.
Ok what is the deadline for submitting collected tree photos?
As stated on the above photographs tab:
May I use a pixie bougainvillea stump I’ve been using for cutting
i also have a pink pixie stump i am looking to enter. I also live in Fl. Look forward to seeing the before pics of yours.
Well after reading about the Campeche I guess my bougy is good. He states he cut it back two years ago to thicken branches. I only took cutting from mine
Ones our entry is accepted can we start styling?
Correct Neli.
Hi, Paul. One of our club members yanked out a Korean boxwood hedge last year. He trimmed the individual shrubs enough to make them easier to handle, and brought them — still in the garden soil — to our club auction, where I bought one. When I got it home, I potted it and removed some dead branches. It survived the winter, and is breaking dormancy.
Just to be sure: can I enter this tree in the contest?
yes you can.
Can ‘raw stock’ be from a bonsai nursery, such as junipers or maples with shaped trunks but no branch selection.
Such as the twisted junipers often imported to the UK?
Anybody know if there are updates about the 2013 styling contest?
Hi there!
Thanks for asking.
The judges are doing their work right now.
I had to scramble due to one judge that had a death in the family and couldn’t deal with this contest.
Oh my, that’s terrible news. My condolences – I hope he and his family are getting through it ok.