My Uncle Bob is an accomplished painter and in the past ten years or so has delved into the world of woodcarving. At a lunch on Hilton Head Island in January, the discussion regarding this project initiated. The moment he heard my trees were benchless, he offered to make them a suitable throne. As a bonsai enthusiast, the thought of custom-made benches is a godsend, especially when you’re fortunate enough to be intimately involved in their creation. He’s been staying at nearby Tybee Island for the past month, so we’ve been readily exchanging thoughts and ideas regarding this project. Bob’s original design was fairly industrial, which isn’t necessarily a bad concept for this project, but he soon realized this would not satisfy his artistic needs. The next concept was heavily influenced by Asian design (as depicted in the photos). It was at this moment that I knew this would not be a quick, punch em’ out project, but rather a lesson in bonsai culture—primarily display. As an artist, Bob was immediately enthralled and began reading bonsai books at the library and borrowing whatever texts I had available.
