Formal upright style

From BonsaiWIKI

FORMAL UPRIGHT FORM

The formal upright is considered the classic bonsai form from which all other bonsai styles are derived. It is characterized most clearly by a perfectly straight, vertical trunk that rises perpendicular to the soil, as viewed from the tree's front, tapering from a buttressing rootbase to a well-defined apex.

Cryptomeria or Japanese Cedar, as shown in the image above, are a traditionally displayed in Formal Upright Style, as are Redwoods

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CHARACTERISTICS of the FORMAL UPRIGHT

Tapering, straight trunk that leans slightly forward at its apex in order to create a "towering" appearance.
Strong, radiating root display at the soil line.
Branches that are increasingly thinner, shorter and more dense towards the apex of the tree, with the angle of inclination of the branches changing from downswept near the base to upswept at the apex.

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SPECIES IDEAL FOR FORMAL UPRIGHT STYLE

The Formal Upright Style is particularly appropriate for evergreen conifers, among these

Pine
Needle juniper
Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria)
Redwood
Cypress (False Cypress, Bald Cypress, etc.)

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NATURAL CONDITIONS FAVORING FORMAL UPRIGHT GROWTH

The formal upright style is considered the Classic bonsai style. It is intended to represent a tree that has developed under largely "ideal" circumstances, that is:

Even sunlight
Level soil
Adequate rainfall
Space to grow without competition
No harsh winds
No root obstructions (stones, other trees)

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ARTISTIC POINTS FOR FORMAL UPRIGHTS

As with all bonsai, scalene triangle is a very strong design element
First branch appears at 1/3 to 1/4 the height of the tree
Apex is sometimes dead or "jin" to suggest damage from naturally occuring conditions like lightning strikes, snowfall or decay
Root display is particularly important to suggest a strong, firmly-rooted trunk.
Eye poking, or branches that are directed straight forward should be avoided, particularly in the lower 1/2 of the tree.

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CONTAINERS APPROPRIATE FOR FORMAL UPRIGHT STYLES

Straight sided
Rectangular shape
Clean lines, that is not too ornate
Very simple feet
Subdued colors - earth tones in brown, red or gray.
Over-the stone and root-on-rock styles are generally inconsistent with the straight trunk of the formal upright.

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SIDEBAR:

As the formal upright tree matures, it may depart from the "ideal" appearance of its youth by the action of any of the natural forces that might have been largely absent in its development. For example, the apex may be destroyed by lightning, the base may be hollowed by fire or decay; branches may be stripped from the trunk by winds, falling trees or snowfall. However, the formal upright bonsai always conveys the image of having once been perfect, even if it does not presently portray perfection.

It is a rather common practice to use such creative devices as a means to address defects in the material before us. For example:

the apex of a trunk exhibiting a fine radial root base, yet lacking taper can be stripped and carved to a point to suggest that which never was, and complete the bonsai illusion of a formal upright now in decline.
A tree with fair taper yet lacking roots at one point might be carved to suggest a hollowed trunk which resulted from fire and subsequent decay.

In this way, we emphasize the positive features of the tree while hiding its defects in such a way that complete image portrays a convincing story.

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Species Note:

A favorite specimen for Formal Upright bonsai on the west coast of the United States is the Coastal Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens. Native specimens of Sequoia grow to a height frequently in excess of 300 ft, with some specimens recording a lifespan in excess of 2200 years!

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