If the maple in your yard has large leaves, that may be part of your answer. It's the difference between the little, light, lacy leaves of a japanese maple and the big, cover-your-plate leaves of a sycamore, for example. Even when down-sized a sycamore's leaves are still big and tend to look incongruous on a small, mature tree grown as a bonsai.

Do you happen to know the formal name of the maple you're referring to?

The Crimson King

Norway maple? Biggish leaves? If there are seedlings around it could be worth a go - for making a taller bonsai. Stunning colour!