Twin Trunk cork bark elm update, 1 year

davetree

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This is my cork bark elm after one year of training. I looked at this tree for a long time before deciding to style it as a twin trunk. I looked at it a long time further before putting the tree at this angle, with the child tree in front of the parent tree. So it breaks a rule, but the movement is so much better at this angle. My question is : what kind of pot for this big rugged tree ? Any suggestions ? thanks for your input. the pics are 1 year ago, and now today.
 

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rockm

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Very nice tree and work.:D

I like to go "native" with quirky trees like this one and avoid the typical Japanese/tokoname pots. They're always a fall back, but native potters can give a tree like this one an extra visual bump, IMO. They also-- depending on what you're after--might be a little less expensive.

For such a rugged looking trunk, I'd consider a rounded square with some rugged accents, like rivets. Sara Rayner's pots manage to combine some refinement with ruggedness. Her "rounded square" pot with rivets might work with this tree:
http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/rectangle.html

Glaze could be the dark slip in the pic, but you might also consider a green/grey glaze too. Her "Green ash" or "blue green ash" might lighten it up just a bit.
http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/glazes.html

You could also go a little lighter in the pot's visual weight, with a shallower oval, or shallow rectangle too.

Ron Lang makes a pretty mean heavy oval that might work.

http://www.langbonsai.com/oval.htm

His "peachy satin with salt influence" glaze would work here, as would the "frog" glaze:
http://www.langbonsai.com/glazes.htm

Dale Cochoy has many distinctive shapes and glazes that would work with this tree too. His pots vary greatly, so you'd have to check with him about the particulars.
 

davetree

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Thanks for the suggestions. Sara Rayner's studio is about 20 miles from me. I already have a couple of her pots for my better trees, so I think I might have to take a road trip sometime. You can get her pots really cheap at the MN bonsai society's spring and fall auctions.
 

Brian Underwood

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Great work! Very nice development in a short period of time. This really shows what can be done with an elm given the proper technique. I second Rock's idea of a rectangle with rounded corners, but you could also do an oval. There have been some really cool tokoname pots on ebay recently (though overpriced) that have a more rugged look; http://cgi.ebay.com/Bonsai-pot-Yama...75166293?pt=Planters_Pots&hash=item45fbad0f55

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bonsai-pot-Yama...85045792?pt=Planters_Pots&hash=item43a837eb20

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bonsai-pot-Yama...75168439?pt=Planters_Pots&hash=item45fbad17b7

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bonsai-pot-Yama...85382577?pt=Planters_Pots&hash=item43a83d0eb1

You could also do a cream/white or green glaze... Thanks for sharing!
 
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i love it. thats a super good trunk. and the speed at which its coming along is impressive. i can't wait to see it in four or five years.
 

davetree

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Thanks for the comments. The speed at which it is developing is mainly due to the tree species itself. I have to prune this thing constantly or it will get away from me in no time at all. Fun to watch grow, but you can dull your scissors pruning so many shoots.
 

JudyB

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Yeah, good one. Thanks for sticking it up. Maybe we could get an update from dave???
 

tmmason10

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Agreed this was a lovely transformation. Can't wait to see how it looks in it's pot.
 

davetree

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Thanks for your comments. Rob Addonizio of Taiko Earth is making a custom pot for this tree, which should arrive in time for repotting in another month or so. I will wire and repot at the same time and then post pictures. Really looking forward to seeing it in its new suit....
 

bonsai barry

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Very nice tree and work.:D

I like to go "native" with quirky trees like this one and avoid the typical Japanese/tokoname pots. They're always a fall back, but native potters can give a tree like this one an extra visual bump, IMO. They also-- depending on what you're after--might be a little less expensive.

For such a rugged looking trunk, I'd consider a rounded square with some rugged accents, like rivets. Sara Rayner's pots manage to combine some refinement with ruggedness. Her "rounded square" pot with rivets might work with this tree:
http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/rectangle.html

Glaze could be the dark slip in the pic, but you might also consider a green/grey glaze too. Her "Green ash" or "blue green ash" might lighten it up just a bit.
http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/glazes.html

You could also go a little lighter in the pot's visual weight, with a shallower oval, or shallow rectangle too.

Ron Lang makes a pretty mean heavy oval that might work.

http://www.langbonsai.com/oval.htm

His "peachy satin with salt influence" glaze would work here, as would the "frog" glaze:
http://www.langbonsai.com/glazes.htm

Dale Cochoy has many distinctive shapes and glazes that would work with this tree too. His pots vary greatly, so you'd have to check with him about the particulars.

Thanks for the links to these artists. Loved looking at their wares and dreaming. We have to o many talented pot throwers not to use their products for our finest trees.
 

rockm

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I've seen Rob Addonizio's work over on IBC. He's very good. Good choice.

Hmm, looks like Ron Lang updated his web site:
http://www.langbonsai.com/index.html

I think I recognize some of the pots in the photos from the kiln opening in October. I also think he's updated the glaze varieties and shapes he can make.

I will have to start saving for the next kiln event ;-)
 

tmmason10

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I've seen Rob Addonizio's work over on IBC. He's very good. Good choice.

Hmm, looks like Ron Lang updated his web site:
http://www.langbonsai.com/index.html

I think I recognize some of the pots in the photos from the kiln opening in October. I also think he's updated the glaze varieties and shapes he can make.

I will have to start saving for the next kiln event ;-)
Ha great, his new site doesn't work on my iPad (flash-based)
 
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