by Justin Lee
When I first heard the term Bonsai Mud men, I immediately thought of some nomadic tribe of people, in some far away, remote place that the world had somehow forgotten. While actual Mud Men do actually exist is places like New Guinea, bonsai mud men are actually small clay figurines that are used to help decorate your bonsai tree. Each figure is highly decorated and sized to complement the design of your bonsai.
In keeping with the traditions of bonsai growth, these figurines often depict ancient oriental men and women performing everyday tasks. These are not brightly colored artifacts, rather simple, plain decorative figurines that are designed to reflect the concepts of the bonsai tree.
Growing a bonsai is a unique experience, not at all like growing a traditional plant or tree. With the bonsai you grow, train and prune your tree so that in the end it is a miniature version of a single tree that could be found in nature. This tree maybe full of leaves or a gnarled lonely tree, that is solely up to you as the grower. It is your artistic inputs into the bonsai tree that makes it different from any other bonsai. Mud men, when added to the bonsai tree, will help reinforce the concept that you, as the grower sought.
Selecting your characters is where the your artistic talents can shine. Figurines are available in several different sizes and finishes, both glazed and unglazed. The glazed mud men are often painted in traditional old world colors. Your selection of mud men must complement the bonsai pot. Remember that visually, everything in the bonsai tree should flow together. Each part of the bonsai must work together. They are all important but none should stand out.
One would not normally use painted glazed figurines in an unglazed pot. But that is not say one could not do just this. It is your artistic inputs that determine which mud men will work with your specimen.
Since proportionality is another aspect of the bonsai tree, you might consider replacing your mud men for a larger size as your bonsai tree grows. Having too large or too small of mud men could destroy the overall appearance of your bonsai tree.
As part of the offering of these ceramic figures, one can also find small architectural pieces such as bridges or water wells that can help define or amplify the image that you as the grower artist are seeking.
So while the name mud men may not be an appealing title, they can add greatly to the overall appeal of your bonsai.
Confused about the right type of mudmen to use for your bonsai? Justin Lee’s bonsai website, Bonsai-Hut.com is a wonderful source of everything you will need to grow a healthy, happy bonsai tree including a wide selection of mudmen for your bonsai. While you’re there, sign up for Justin’s 7 part mini course on caring for your bonsai. Find out what the leading cause of bonsai death is. Learn how to prune and shape your bonsai with wiring and defoliation techniques and much more. Justin has been a bonsai enthusiast every since he purchased his first bonsai over 20 years ago. Join him in this fascinating hobby and become a bonsai enthusiast yourself. You’ll be glad you did! Click Here to explore Justin’s site now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_S_Lee