The Deniliquin paramedic will showcase his bonsai art, with demonstrations and talking about everything bonsai.
Bonsai Bob has been a bonsai artist for the past 32 years, starting with just a few and now he has several hundred.
“My brother-in-law who lived in Swan Hill got me started,” he said.
“He had a couple of bonsai trees and I was completely infatuated by it. He also had a book on bonsai and I was quick to borrow that.
“Now, 32 years on, I just love teaching the art of bonsai.”
Mr Johnson is a member of several bonsai clubs in Australia including Canberra, Castlemaine and Melbourne where international Bonsai Masters conduct classes.
He now enjoys giving private lessons, group sessions and demonstrations to organisations.
He most recently has given exhibitions and seminars for Deniliquin Rotary, Deniliquin Garden Club and the Mental Health Awareness Group.
“It’s a funny art, where it gets in your blood and you just can’t get it out,” Mr Johnson said.
“I’m excited to share bonsai at the Easter Art Show. I’ll have a tent set-up and will give demonstrations, talk to people about bonsai and also give them a crack at trying bonsai.
“What some people may not realise is that bonsai is not just putting a plant in a pot. In summer you have to water the plant twice a day, as well as regularly prune and feed it.
“If you think of a painting you have to pick what colours you paint with and whether you will use oil or water based paint. Bonsai is similar in the sense that you pick your tree, pick your pot and pick how you want it to look. It takes a lot of care and hard work.
“Landscape gardening is a passion of mine and I find bonsai, as well as just watering plants, as quite therapeutic. It’s important to have something that relaxes me like this, particularly in my line of work.”
While Mr Johnson will be showcasing his bonsai art, his other passion of photography will also be on display.
He is a member of the local In Focus Photography Group, having had his work exhibited in previous Easter Art Shows.
“I also enter them in the Deniliquin Show each year. My love for photography started with an instamatic camera as a teenager, and now I have about $10,000 worth of camera gear.”
The 28th annual Rotary Easter Art Show will be held from Good Friday, April 10 to Easter Monday, April 13.
Entries close on March 20, 2020 and artists may exhibit up to five works. Entry fees apply.
For more information phone Chris Whitehouse on 5881 8985, email chrisw@bigpond.com or visit www.edwardriverartsociety.com.
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