Bonsai master works wonders with a bizarre stump using a pair of skilled hands

This English elm has grown in a rather interesting way. No one knows why it ended up like this; it was probably damaged when young, which is why it took on this shape. This kind of strangely shaped old stump is deeply loved by some people, following the form and working with its nature, the whole point is the weirdness. As long as it is handled well, it can often produce unexpected results.

This stump was bought by the bonsai artist in 2013, and the seller turned out to be Graham. He probably had collected too many stumps himself to work on them all, so he sold some off too. It was discovered beside an irrigation ditch. Seeing its appearance reminds me of this character from Plants vs. Zombies, though its thighs are not as thick as his.

The biggest problem with this stump is this saw cut. A saw cut like this can only be resolved by carving.

The carving process is not important; from the result we can also tell how it was done. Look closely at the carved part: there is finesse within the boldness. The edges were not made smooth but left with some chips and breaks, which looks very natural. The wood even has patterns carved into it like ox-hair grain, which is truly meticulous.

Seeing this result, I think of a crocodile or a hedgehog again. No matter what it looks like, you have to admire this bonsai artist's imagination. The base of this stump is 60 cm wide, and several main roots are exposed in a very imposing way, like the feet of a dinosaur.