Bonsai Mud Men

What are Bonsai Mud Men?

When I first heard the term Bonsai Mudmen, 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, bonsai mud men 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 tree 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 mud men is where the your artistic talents can shine. Mud men 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 mud men in an unglazed pot. But that is not say one couldn't do just this. It's 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 mud men, 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, the bonsai mud men can add to the overall appeal of your bonsai.

For a nice selection of Bonsai Mud Men

 By Justin Lee