Fall Apprenticeship Intensive

Service Description

Open to beginners as well as advanced artists, the bonsai Intensives provide customized instruction and the opportunity to work on high quality bonsai with the (optional) goal of exhibiting a tree in a show. Since the program's inception in 2001, the Intensives have employed classroom instruction and hands-on practice to help students learn as quickly as possible. Intensives occur three times a year during the Winter, Summer, and Fall. Work begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. each day with breaks for lunch and dinner (both included). Sessions include written work, discussion, hands-on work, and time to study bonsai books and videos. The intensive is limited to six students to accommodate students at different levels, ensuring that each student receives individual attention and works at an appropriate level. The price for a three-day program is $800. Lunch and dinner are included all three days. A $200 deposit is required to reserve a spot. The deposit is not refundable unless the vacated spot is filled. The bonsai intensive is located in Northern California's Sacramento Area. This means that it could just as likely be warm in winter and cold in summer as the other way around. The average temperatures vary from 45-57 degrees in winter to 58-75 in summer. Local participants are welcome to bring some of their own material for discussion or work. Students are expected to bring their own tools; they are not expected to bring wire or trees. A wide variety of material will be available for students to work on including some very high-quality trees. Local students may, at their option, bring trees for work or discussion if they would like. Ask Boon for details if you have any questions about working on your own trees. A basic tool-kit will suffice for most intensives. Large tools, power tools, and specialized tools for carving, heavy bending, or repotting will be provided. Both copper and aluminum wire are also provided. If you are coming by plane, don't forget to check any luggage with tools in it! • concave cutter • scissors • tweezers • bent-nose tweezers • wire-cutter • pliers • large scissors for trimming roots