This is what can happen to an old bonsai behemoth in the hands of the right artist. In this case the hands belong to Valentín Cruz. The tree is a yamadori (collected from the wild) Sierra juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)

Continuing with North American bonsai in our lead up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition… It wasn’t long ago I stumbled upon the bonsai of Valentín Cruz, a remarkably skilled young bonsai artist who lives and practices his art in Northern California. Valentín is a student of Jim Gremel, a highly respected bonsai artist and ceramicist, and the proprietor of Deer Meadow Bonsai and  American Bonsai Ceramics
Continued below… 

Before and after

It’s not too late to plan your trip to Rochester for the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. If you’ve never been, you owe it to yourself. If you have been, you’ll understand why

Before. It never hurts to start with good material

Cropped for a closer look at the shari and nebari

Perfect in its classical design. It's an Atlas ceder (Cedrus atlantica) by Jim Gremel, Valentin's mentor