StoneForest
Seedling
- Messages
- 20
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Hello to all, new to the forum and looking forward to your valuable input. I have been a full time potter for sixteen years, and two years ago I began studying bonsai. As a master gardener the art drew me in and I have several trees of my own. I began making bonsai pots alongside my functional ware and now feel drawn to venture into bonsai ceramics full time. I am a painter and sculptor as well as a potter, I have access to reduction and wood firing, so the potential of what I can create is exciting to me. However, I admit to being a bit confused and bewildered while trying to figure out exactly what type of pottery the American bonsai community is interested in. When I began I was fortunate to find support and encouragement from some bonsai enthusiasts in my area who pointed me in the direction of "traditional" bonsai work...the pot is to have no ego, and "the spirit of the pot serves the spirit of the tree". I began posting some work on the auction sites and have had success, but was surprised to see many pots that were "all ego", one might say, with bright colors and sculpts/textures. They attracted a strong following. I have studied the work of many of the more popular bonsai potters in America, and find them to be mostly "traditional" in style with some exceptions. So I would like to ask, respectfully, what type of pots do you think are most popular in the US today? What would you, personally, like to see? What color glazes/finishes, what shapes and sizes? I'm open to all suggestions, and feel capable of producing just about anything. I am most grateful for any advice as I venture into this art form full time. My website is www.stoneforestpottery.com, although I don't have many bonsai pots listed there. I am also on Facebook as Stone Forest Pottery.