The 13th. & 14th. January 2007 saw the first visit to The National Bonsai Society of the internationally famous
Italian Bonsai Master, Marco Invernizzi, for a weekend of two full day workshops.
Any apprehension on the part of the students at attempting a workshop with someone as experienced as Marco, who served a seven year apprenticeship with the Italian Master Salvatore Liporace and spent a further four years with possibly the world's number one Bonsai Master Masahiko Kimurai, was soon dispelled. Marco immediately set everyone at ease.
The students were able to share in Marco's vast amount of knowledge. His examples and critiques of students' trees was appreciated by both new and experienced students. Everyone benefitted from the confidence gained by the opportunity, under his guidance, to put his ideas and suggestions into practice.
Having students attend from as far afield as Stoke, combined with the numerous requests for Marco to return in the future, is testimony to the value and success of his workshops.
(Click on the photographs to open a larger view in a new window).
Following the workshops Marco was the guest speaker at The National Bonsai Society's monthly meeting. With a good attendance from the Society's members and with visitors from the Wirral Bonsai Society
it proved a very productive and enjoyable evening.
Marco demonstrated his skill at wiring and styling different species of trees, using as examples two broadleaf trees and a conifer, giving clear and detailed explanations as he worked. There was opportunity for eveyone to participate with Marco taking questions throughout.
Whilst at the meeting
Marco was invited to judge the Tree Of The Month Competition.
His choice was an English Elm owned by Kevin Summerton, who says it was possibly the first real bonsai he owned, acquiring it in 1999 and which also reminds him of childhood holidays in Worcestershire and seeing the elms there before the devastation of Dutch Elm disease.
