Welcome To FIRST BRANCH BONSAI
Dedicated to the Education and exploration of Bonsai
Why I Create:
Todd Schlafer, Bonsai Artist
Todd Schlafer is a leading bonsai artist and educator residing in Denver, Colorado. After years of working as an art director in the corporate world, a change was needed.
The art of bonsai is slow and patient; an unveiling of movement, growth, attention, and working with what Todd calls "living sculptures". Early in his bonsai practice, Todd lost almost his entire collection of trees and considered giving up his dream, yet he learned that no one becomes an expert solely through success.
Today, Todd travels across the US and abroad, maintaining private bonsai collections, giving seminars, and teaching others about the joy of this craft. He continues to build out a world-class garden facility in Colorado and teaches annual classes on styling, repotting, and bonsai practices.
Short film courtesy of Ben Coleman of Why I Create
About
I was working as an art director for a well-known pet toy company and I wasn’t happy there. I had been there for many years and felt like I needed a change. I was talking to my dad, and he asked me, “If money wasn’t an issue, what would you do?” I told him I’d do bonsai, so he said that’s what I should do. We had this same discussion a couple of times and finally, as I was driving to do a bonsai workshop in Nebraska, I told the universe that if they booked me before I left, I’d leave my job to do bonsai for a living.
While I was there, the host kept asking me to look at dates for the following year. I said I would, but I was trying to let it happen organically, not for any particular reason. As I was packing to head home, we sat on his porch, and he said I should come for five days, two times the following year. We booked dates, and he asked me if I needed to first check with my work. I told him I didn’t need to. The universe has shown me my new direction.
Gallery
Explore the range of stunning bonsai compositions created at First Banch Bonsai.
Shop
At First Branch Bonsai, we strive to push the limits and expand the art form of bonsai. We focus on many aspects of design, but one of the main focuses is using Native species of North America and the Rocky Mountains.
