Bonsai Instructors in the Portland Metropolitan Area
The Bonsai Society of Portland (BSOP) provides this list of bonsai instructors as part of our mission to promote the art of bonsai through meetings, library resources, mentorship sessions, shows, and instruction. We highly recommend these instructors, all located in the greater Portland, OR area, for teaching bonsai techniques from beginning to advanced.
Click the instructor photo below to see a description of services, contact information, and a short biography of experience. Download a copy of the list
Cheatle, Lee
Lee Cheatle has been passionately doing bonsai since 1994. He joined BSOP in 2000, where he has served on the Executive Board as VP Programs for four years and as President for four years, and he continues to chair BSOP’s exceptional Mentorship program. In 2012 he was instrumental in creating the Mentorship 101 program, geared to teaching beginning bonsai techniques. Lee has studied with the finest instructors in the USA: Ryan Neil, Michael Hagedorn, David DeGroot, Boon Manakitivipart, Masa Furukawa and Joe Harris III. He thrives on taking what he has learned and passing it on to others. He would tell you “I was born to teach”. Lee has won numerous awards for bonsai that he has submitted to shows. He is most proud of being accepted to show in The Artisans Cup, where he finished 16th out of 71 entries of the best bonsai in North America. Lee has, for several years now, been a proponent of the new “American” style bonsai, a movement which is becoming prevalent in our country. Lee would love to have you visit his garden and workshops, and is willing to travel to personal gardens and clubs to do presentations.
Contact: Lee Cheatle
leecheatlebonsai@gmail.com
Tigard, OR
Eads, John
After graduating from a 2-year apprenticeship with Michael Hagedorn, John has gone on to build Left Coast Bonsai, a nursery focused on building quality bonsai from the ground up.
John has shown trees at the Portland Japanese Garden and is often seen lurking in the corner at BSOP meetings selling some of his wares.
He has set up shop between Portland and the Coast in the small community of Gales Creek and offers classes and one-on-one instruction on topics ranging from starting material from seed all the way to refined wiring of trees for show presentation.
Contact: John Eads
Plant Manager
971-230-8336
talk@leftcoastbonsai.com
Portland, OR
www.leftcoastbonsai.com
Elser, Scott
Scott Elser started down the bonsai path by observing the trees of his grandfather while still a teenager. With a passion for native Northwest species, Scott took his bonsai enthusiasm and skills to a higher level by studying with Boon Manakativipart, graduating from his three year Intensive course in 2005. Armed with this instruction, Scott began entering trees in the US National Bonsai Show, winning Best Conifer in 2008 and 2010, and Best of Show, the National Award, in 2012. His pursuit of bonsai as an artistic endeavor continues with Ryan Neil at Bonsai Mirai. Scott draws on his profession as a graphic designer to create northwest inspired bonsai. He teaches and demonstrates regularly at BSOP and travels throughout the Northwest doing the same.
Contact: Scott Elser
503-803-5343
bonsaielser@gmail.com
Portland, OR
Crataegus Bonsai, Michael Hagedorn
Portland Bonsai Village founder Michael Hagedorn’s bonsai work bridges tradition and innovative design. He apprenticed with bonsai master Shinji Suzuki in Obuse, Japan from 2003-2006, and authored the apprenticeship memoir Post-Dated: The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk and the offbeat educational book Bonsai Heresy: 56 Myths Exposed Using Science & Tradition. Formerly a potter, Michael is the Bonsai Consultant for the Portland Japanese Garden, teaches classes to international students at his garden, Crataegus Bonsai, and blogs weekly at www.crataegus.com/blog/.
Contact: Michael Hagedorn
503-277-8072
crataegusbonsai@gmail.com
Milwaukie, OR
www.crataegus.com
Bonsai Mirai, Ryan Neil
Mirai is a bonsai studio, garden and creative ecosystem based outside of Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2010 by artist and bonsai professional, Ryan Neil, to explore the dialogue between humans and the living tree after becoming the first western person to complete a 6-year apprenticeship under bonsai master, Masahiko Kimura, in Japan's Saitama prefecture.
As a horticultural incubator and creative facility, our mission is to explore the boundaries and identity of bonsai in the western world through the context of the tree–where compositions reflect the vast array of native landscapes and cultures that are formed in their midst.
As leaders in the practice, we are committed to sharing our knowledge through science-based bonsai education, while fostering accessibility around the artform with our local and global communities.
Mirai in Japanese means 'future'. It refers not to the immediate future, but to a distant dream, a romantic thought, the future yet to come, ever out of reach, unobtainable, and always evolving. It is the foreshadowing of the perpetual stewardship and unknown future that guides this very special relationship with the tree.
We create trees that connect you–to culture, nature, and the spirit of the individual.
Contact: info@bonsaimirai.com
St. Helens, OR
www.bonsaimirai.com
www.live.bonsaimirai.com
Andrew Robson
Andrew Robson is an emerging deciduous artist in the American bonsai community. Andrew completed a three year apprenticeship with Michael Hagedorn, after graduating from Yale University. He serves as a member of the Portland Bonsai Village, and has previously served as a board member of the American Bonsai Society. Andrew exhibits work at the Portland Japanese Garden, and regularly lectures at the garden's Japanese Arts Learning Center. Andrew and his family are currently building a deciduous-focused bonsai garden, school and nursery, RAKUYO-en, just outside of Portland, Oregon. While some conifers hang around RAKUYO, the overwhelming focus is on deciduous bonsai.
Contact: Andrew Robson
rakuyobonsai@gmail.com
314-471-5732
Portland, OR
www.rakuyobonsai.com
Steve Wilcox
Steve Wilcox passed away on 4/20/2023. Steve was only 70 but he lived an extremely full life.
Steve joined the BSOP in April of 2003 and for the next 20 years involved himself with our club significantly. He was on the board as VP of programming and served our club in many capacities. He was most proud of his involvement in the mentorship program and chaired that program for many years. However his biggest contribution to bonsai was his ambassadorship. Many of our current members joined the BSOP or retained their membership due to Steve’s enthusiasm. A simple welcoming conversation to a new member goes a long way with newbies and he knew that.
Recently the BSOP board made Steve an Honorary Member for his contributions to the clubs success. This made him proud but what he was more proud of is the board has set up a mentorship fund in his name.
He will be missed!