Build a Bonsai competition winners
Posted by Huw,
Our Build a Bonsai competition attracted a lot of entries, and there were many outstanding ones among them. Consequently, it's been one of the most difficult competitions we've had to judge.
The judges, which included special guest Nico Vas, designer of 10281 Bonsai Tree, have finished deliberating and I can now reveal the results.
Modification to 10281 Bonsai Tree category
In this category, entrants were asked to modify the official bonsai model, but to ensure it was still recognisable as it.
1st Prize: Bobthemadcow
Bob's entry on Instagram was one of several that he submitted, but it was this one that caught the judges' eye.
- Nico: "I love the drooping leaves of this cultivar. The leaves are arranged in a very organic way, with plenty of pleasing volume."
- Megan: "I didn't think this was an adaptation of the original at first - the foliage is beautiful. Inspired use of skeleton arms and the flowers give the right splash of colour. Beautiful!"
- Chris: "I love the drooping leaves and resulting distinctive shape of this tree."
Runner-up: SonofLight (Flickr)
SonofLight has used a wide variety of foliage elements to create a beautiful Japanese wisteria.
- Megan: "I really enjoy the larger leaf pieces being used, as well as the novel use of the spiky plant and purple leaf pieces."
- Chris: "This tree possesses a delightful fantasy quality and I like the combination of four completely different foliage elements."
Original design category
In this category, entrants could come up with their own design of tree, foliage and pot.
1st Prize: Marius Herrmann (Flickr)
This Sakura bonsai is perfectly balanced and beautiful, and it was deservedly awarded top marks by all of the judges.
- Alice "It looks beautiful and has some great part usage: the green hair and cracked egg pieces create a nice effect. The pot and stand are nice and simple which focusses attention on the tree"
- Chris: "Everything about this bonsai tree looks incredible, from the textured trunk to the floral foliage. I particularly love how Joker hair pieces are used!"
- Nico "Not only is this bonsai incredibly beautiful, everything about the construction is exquisite, from the elaborate shaping in the trunk to the subtle NPU of wand boxes in the display stand and minifigure skirts in the tray."
- Megan "I thought this was real! It's beautiful, and I want it in my house."
- Ben "A beautiful tree with tons of detail, so many unusual parts as texture on the trunk."
Runner-up: Know your Pieces (Flickr)
The presentation of this superb levitating tree helped lift (!) it above other entries.
- Megan: "Amazing part usage throughout, including the mammoth heads for the trees. I love the steampunk vibe and the levitating effect."
- Ben: "I love the use of the ladybird wings as flower petals."
- Chris: "The fantasy theming of this bonsai tree is exceptionally effective and the integration of the new Ladybird Girl's elytra elements is brilliant."
- Nico: "There are mammoth heads in the trunk of this tree. Nothing could make me happier!"
It's been a real pleasure viewing everyone's creations, and I'm honoured and humbled that so many of you took the time to enter, so thank you for doing so.
If you've not already done so, you can view all the entries on Flickr, Instagram and blockheads.builders.
Congratulations to the winners -- I'll be in touch to arrange for your prizes, which include LEGO goats that are 'worth their weight in gold' to be shipped to you in due course.
Finally, thanks to the judges and in particular Nico for offering to assist.
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40 comments on this article
Absolutely gorgeous sets, folks! Congratulations to the winners. :)
Congrats, shame my money tree didn't win thought.
That winning tree is...wow, it’s amazing.
This may be a bit early, but I have an idea for the next competition:
Downsize a Starfighter.
We could take a main Star Wars ship and make it smaller, like LEGO did with the X -Wing, Tie Fighter, and Imperial Shuttle this year. It would be fun to see what people come up with.
I am so excited! I can't believe I placed at all! There were so many great entries. Thanks to everyone at Brickset for running the competition!
Kudos to all the entrants and the winners. The creativity on display is magnificent. Here’s hoping Lego’s future botanical offerings are half as good.
I just checked ebay and the goats are worth 100 dollars (us) each.
sonolife witch of them is yours? Sorry if I spelled that wrong:)
Congratulations to all the winners but especially Marius Hermann! It’s no exaggeration to say that his bonsai is a work of art that exemplifies the very best of LEGO.
@Henry_D - "random people" more like the most talented builders out there who didn't have to play by the "rules" and be constrained by a budget etc. The designer of this set is one of the most talented ones out there.
Think before you comment...
The winning tree is amazing - I am hopeless at anything organic looking (with me its all buildings and geometry) but I would love that tree in my house...
@masterthebrick said:
"I just checked ebay and the goats are worth 100 dollars (us) each."
Which is indeed nearly 'their weight in gold' :)
@SonofLight said:
"I am so excited! I can't believe I placed at all! There were so many great entries. Thanks to everyone at Brickset for running the competition!"
I would have had trouble choosing between 1st and 2nd in the 'modified' category. Fantastic... Definitely 1st=. Well done!
Fantastic builds all around!
No wonder there was so many participating since it was goats to the winners :P
Congratulations to all the winners; these are all incredible! :D
Congratulations to the winners! Great works for each category
The bonsai created by Marius Herrmann is BY FAR the best of all.
I wonder why Huw never judged?... Oh wait all of the winners would of had goats.
This is why I didn't even bother entering! Congrats to all the winners, truly fantastic work!
@CAC101 said:
"I wonder why Huw never judged?... Oh wait all of the winners would of had goats. "
I did. I just didn't provide any quotes:-)
Amazing talent.
... and amazing parts collections!!
@Henry_D said:
"Random people on the internet made it 10x times better, than designer who got payed to do it . Nice"
Yeah, because Nicolas Vas was always a LEGO designer and didn’t start out as an AFOL or anything...
Wow, congratulations to the winners! The Bonsai set finally came back in stock briefly at my local store in time for me to grab it, so hopefully I can use your inspirations!
BTW, is the runner-up in the Original Design category the spaceship upon which Audrey II arrives on Earth in Little Shop of Horrors?
All four winners and runners-up and just fantastic! Love them all. :-)
Really hope I manage to get hold of a set, before it retires.
Congratulations to the designers; these renditions are a beauty.
Now it would just be great - and proper - for TLG to purchase the ideas from the winners, make them into official sets and sell them alongside the original Bonsai Tree. Something new might sprout for Lego...
Man I would love instructions and part s for the winner. It's amazing!
@dingbat591 said:
"Congratulations to the designers; these renditions are a beauty.
Now it would just be great - and proper - for TLG to purchase the ideas from the winners, make them into official sets and sell them alongside the original Bonsai Tree. Something new might sprout for Lego..."
I don't think that's a good idea. Mocs can just be mocs
@DavidBrick said:
"I love these, they are pretty and such but I'm very disappointed.
These aren't that creative, they all still look like a plant. The Rock Raider monster one was creative. These really aren't. They are just different takes on what was already made.
"
I have to agree...there where fantastic modified entries out there that really took it over the top, these, althoug the builds are stunning, keep me hungry...
BRAVO!! Great creations that give inspiration. Congratulations!
Congratulations to the winners great stuff from everyone. I had great fun creating mine, but as soon as I saw the two entries that won the original design category I knew I wasn't going to be a winner And that's no goat I mean joke :)
@SonofLight said:
"I am so excited! I can't believe I placed at all! There were so many great entries. Thanks to everyone at Brickset for running the competition!"
I feel exactly the same way! The creativity on display across the board was outstanding. I was just having fun with it :D
For those saying about not being constrained by budget I'd like to point out that I made all of my designs in Studio, so you are right: I wasn't constrained by a budget. Hell, I wasn't even constrained to part/colour combinations that exist! I would love it if Lego saw fit to produce them though ;)
Thanks again to Huw & everyone else involved for running/judging this completion and congratulations to all my fellow winners!
Amazing winners! Congratulations, I can't wait for the next competition and I'm glad I participated in this one.
A little disappointed the classic space scooter tree didn't win, but I suppose these will do. Seriously, though, fantastic work.
Amazing entries and well-deserved congrats to the winners.
Sadly, my wish for a tree made entirely of gruesomely disembodied goat pieces went unfulfilled.
@BobTheMadCow said:
" @SonofLight said:
"I am so excited! I can't believe I placed at all! There were so many great entries. Thanks to everyone at Brickset for running the competition!"
I feel exactly the same way! The creativity on display across the board was outstanding. I was just having fun with it :D
For those saying about not being constrained by budget I'd like to point out that I made all of my designs in Studio, so you are right: I wasn't constrained by a budget. Hell, I wasn't even constrained to part/colour combinations that exist! I would love it if Lego saw fit to produce them though ;)
Thanks again to Huw & everyone else involved for running/judging this completion and congratulations to all my fellow winners!"
Congrats!
@DavidBrick said:
"I love these, they are pretty and such but I'm very disappointed.
These aren't that creative, they all still look like a plant. The Rock Raider monster one was creative. These really aren't. They are just different takes on what was already made.
"
My thoughts exactly.
Nice work! Congrats to all!
Congratulations to the four prize winners: they are all well deserved.
I had great fun producing my entry. It was so satisfying to get my creativity back in gear after some time off. It was never going to be a winner, but it brought me joy to build.
Wow the original first makes the lego one look a bit to rubbish now, shame, but of course expect this one takes to many parts etc or to complex maybe.
I hope there is MOC of this!
EDIT: just saw pic with lego bonsai and Marius one is nearly twice the size!
@BelgianBricker said:
" @DavidBrick said:
"I love these, they are pretty and such but I'm very disappointed.
These aren't that creative, they all still look like a plant. The Rock Raider monster one was creative. These really aren't. They are just different takes on what was already made.
"
I have to agree...there where fantastic modified entries out there that really took it over the top, these, althoug the builds are stunning, keep me hungry..."
Congrats to the winners.
I'm usually not so negative in the comments but I tend to agree that I'm not 'blown' away by the modifying the current bonsai tree winners. The competition had categories of best part usage and so many other entries were just so imaginative. In the end the winners are ok but can't see the amazing part usage. In fact, I stopped entering anymore because there were so many entries with amazing creative parts usage. ??