I attended a course at our bonsai club (from bush to bonsai) a basic course on tree design. i enjoyed it immensely and also added my 4th tree to my collection. i am thrilled with how it ended up and excited to see how it develops. attached is also the overall plan for the tree (not a great drawing, but you should get the idea)

some issues with the tree:
1. at the back there is a gap at the base - lack of roots - note from the mentor is that we will try some grafting early next season to fill the gap and get a nice nebari all around
2. some reverse taper due to a huge scar just above the 1st bend (you can see a bit of in in the before pic) and right at the top of the trunk. - at the next club meeting he will help me do some carving so we can fix that issue
3. lowest branch to thin - i am growing a sacrificial branch (not really clear in the pictures)

this tree is now 6 years old. and now about 30 cm high.

this was my 2nd attempt at wiring and it came out very well. for the top branches the wiring goes around the back of the trunk