Hi, pix would be helpful, but the first thing you want to do is stop cutting lower branches - they're the ones (at least 1-2) that help thicken the trunk (as would in-ground planting x 1-2 yrs). You can always cut them eventually if they don't fit with your design. Also, box grows SO slowly, so be careful about what you prune off... However, if you are sure of what you want from it, do feel free to chop it right down and wait for new branches to emerge that you can guide to your style (and take advantage of the newly fatter trunk being more in proportion with an older tree... which is the idea, of course). As far as the willow goes, same thing, though it grows a lot faster than the boxwood. The bark should heal over in time. And don't fuss too much about fronts - they're overrated I think, and whatever feels right to you and looks best should be what you go with.

Hi Lucy, thanks for your response.

I posted a couple of pics in the gallery

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bonsai/gal0517304625777.html

and link below

Here is a link that might be useful: trees

Sometimes, and I do mean only sometimes, I think the wounds give the trees character. When you're driving a long (or walking if you don't live a huge city like I do) notice how so many trees have wounds. It happens naturally - limbs break or die. I love the trees that have the knobs on them. They remind me of an old oak we had at the house where I grew up. My dad had pruned our favorite climbing limb to park the van =0( and it left this perfectly round knob on the tree that was at least twelve inches in diameter. So much of design can be subjective. I am fascinated by a lot of looks, but they are not necessarily pleaseing to look at for me. That's what makes it art, right?