Guest Artist

Todd Schlafer

Bonsai Artist Todd Schlafer is a long time enthusiast who started his Bonsai career under the tutelage of International Bonsai Master Harold Sasaki in Denver, Co and has been honing his skills under the direction of International Bonsai Master Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai. Mr. Sclafer says of his work “My study with Ryan focused on the advanced techniques of setting tree structure, which is the most difficult skill set to achieve in bonsai. From sunup to sundown, I pushed myself to master those techniques. With my skills well rounded, I was inspired to pursue bonsai practice full-time. And when others began to seek out my expertise, I started to instruct professionally.”

Mr. Schlafer is an avid collector of Colorado Yamadori and has a website called First Branch Bonsai where he sells some of his pre-bonsai collected trees. He recently won the American Bonsai Society Finest Native North American Species tree at The 5th US National Bonsai Exhibition. In 2018 we will be a presenter and workshop artist.