Thank you penumbra (and everyone else!) I appreciate the positive feedback - and also welcome other input/criticism. These first couple of pots are pretty small - only about 2 1/2 inches across at the top - more accent pots really. But I'll be making more while I have the studio time - and trying more/new forms as well.Very nice work. I love the white glaze. Really love the irregular pot. Are they for sale? If they are, how large are they and how much are they?
Dang, that's rough, hope your shoulder is doing well and good luck with getting back in to pottery.I am hoping to return to pottery in a few weeks after almost a year off due to a complete shoulder replacement.
Check out Pitoon's work. He is more in your neck of the woods.
Hey Gabler no worries, and thanks, I appreciate your feedback - and the "wabi-sabi" comment. And I agree, there are plenty of people on here - local or not - that I can learn from. And there are even a couple of local professionals, too.I don’t mean to derail your thread. I just figure that if you’re sharing your pottery, you might be interested in networking with nearby bonsai people, and I figured it probably wouldn’t hurt to share with the group.
First off those pots look amazing. My mother is the real expert I just go downstairs to play the Potter thing when i don't have anything to pot clip or wire...purchased two blocks of clay and one is a number 112 brown Speckled clay and the other is 266 dark brown... both fired at cone 5 to 6... made a couple of pots last night and just waiting to dry for the first fire. So do you have any suggestions for what clay is best for colder climates that regularly see frequent freezing temperatures. Ohhhh yes..I wanted to ask you your thoughts on not putting Glaze on the inside of bonsai pot's. Most bonsai pot's aren't Glazed on the inside surfaces. I intend to do the same on my own work. Even though I understand by using those cheap red clay pot's you get anywhere how nice it is to see that moisture line letting me know if I need to water my babies it would explode when the temperature dips below freezing from water expansion. I learned that there are really really good reasons why bonsai folks do what they do and perfer one thing over the other from me being hard headed, cheep or just plain naive an ignorant.. so what say you?Not that I had done much pottery previously, but after a 2 year break I just started up with pottery again. It's been great to work with clay again and I'm having a lot of fun building things. Here are my first 2 new completed pots.
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Ok, there's a bit to unpack here. First, thanks for your positive feedback - and that's great that you have an opportunity to work with clay yourself.First off those pots look amazing. My mother is the real expert I just go downstairs to play the Potter thing when i don't have anything to pot clip or wire...purchased two blocks of clay and one is a number 112 brown Speckled clay and the other is 266 dark brown... both fired at cone 5 to 6... made a couple of pots last night and just waiting to dry for the first fire. So do you have any suggestions for what clay is best for colder climates that regularly see frequent freezing temperatures. Ohhhh yes..I wanted to ask you your thoughts on not putting Glaze on the inside of bonsai pot's. Most bonsai pot's aren't Glazed on the inside surfaces. I intend to do the same on my own work. Even though I understand by using those cheap red clay pot's you get anywhere how nice it is to see that moisture line letting me know if I need to water my babies it would explode when the temperature dips below freezing from water expansion. I learned that there are really really good reasons why bonsai folks do what they do and perfer one thing over the other from me being hard headed, cheep or just plain naive an ignorant.. so what say you?
Standard #112 is a very nice light brown speckled clay body that has a shrinkage of 12.5% at cone 6. It also has an absorption rate of 2.5%. I Personally like to use a clay for bonsai pots that is 1 - 2% absorption or less though I realize there are plenty of potters who have different opinions on this.purchased two blocks of clay and one is a number 112 brown Speckled clay and the other is 266 dark brown... both fired at cone 5 to 6...