I am just recently into making bonsai pots. I hand build only. This is one that I just made last week. It is 9" inside diameter, 3" high overall, and the rim is 3/4" wide. Now out of fear of sorce telling me it looks like a dog bowl, I thought I would ask some opinions. I can easily reduce the width of the rim at this point and get rid of the indented dots. Opinions appreciate. Be nice Mr sorce! Thanks for the help. Peter
Need opinions on my pot
- Thread starter August44
- Start date
Warpig
Chumono
Not bad. Alot better then I would be able to do. Only thing I would nit-pik would be the drain hole could be alittle bigger.
Sekibonsai
Shohin
Good job. Proportion wise I would have made it a bit shallower, rim seems okay to me.
Heitor Silva
Yamadori
Hey! I'm not a potter or anything, but here is my opinion : it's a really interesting piece, and wonderful considering you're starting in bonsai pottery!
However, i believe it is way too deep for my taste - I'd prefer a 50%- 25% shallower pot. Also, the drainage hole could by wider. Alternatively, you could make more holes of the same size. Will send an idea from my Jorge Ribas pot.
Keep it up! Cheers!
However, i believe it is way too deep for my taste - I'd prefer a 50%- 25% shallower pot. Also, the drainage hole could by wider. Alternatively, you could make more holes of the same size. Will send an idea from my Jorge Ribas pot.
Keep it up! Cheers!
ABCarve
Masterpiece
More drainage holes and thinner wall thickness.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Great job Peter, particularly for a hand built piece. I will not lecture you about the depth of the pot because I'm sure you made it that way with a plant in mind, and sure some folks want them shallower to fit their tress, but it is your pot. Also, your drainage hole is fine a plenty sufficient for your pot, particularly with all of your wonderful tie down holes. Great job.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Nice! Obviously the depth completely depends on the tree and what you’re trying to achieve.
The only thing I don’t like is the zig zag pattern.
The only thing I don’t like is the zig zag pattern.
Mike Hennigan
Chumono
Looks great. Rim is fine. Chunky rims are pretty common for bonsai pots. Walls don’t need to be thin, they can be thinner but it’s a bonsai pot not a mug. If anything extra weight always helps keep the tree on the bench, not a bad thing. Charlie Brown stripes aren’t really my taste, but that’s taste and shouldn’t bear on your artistic decisions. Dots are cool. Keep them, you obviously put them there because you wanted to. Don’t let others opinions sway you too much from your vision for a pot... this is how you end up making dull cookie cutter type pots. The one practical suggestion I have is to make the wire holes smaller. With them that size soil could possibly fall through the holes easily. It’s a pain for someone to have to add mesh screen for every wire hole as well as the drainage holes. Great start man.
Mike Hennigan
Chumono
Oh and the depth thing, some pots are deep some are shallow. Seems silly to ask a deep pot to be shallow when it’s obviously trying to be a deep pot. 
Mike Hennigan
Chumono
Actually it’s kinda hard for me to tell the size of the wire holes, but they seem a bit large.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I've made more doggish bowlish pots than that!
I would like it a bit more if there was one band, a little more irregular. But when I find the non-uniform lines In the striped bands, I like it even more.
I feel like the dot shape and lines clash a Little. But I also feel the dots may "get lost". The lines may actually, "get lost" too. Being under such a wide lip. Which is ok of course, since there is stuff hiding on my pots that may never be found. Lost on purpose, it's ok cuz we know it's there!
That's a great hand built round.
F#@k a wheel!
Sorce
I would like it a bit more if there was one band, a little more irregular. But when I find the non-uniform lines In the striped bands, I like it even more.
I feel like the dot shape and lines clash a Little. But I also feel the dots may "get lost". The lines may actually, "get lost" too. Being under such a wide lip. Which is ok of course, since there is stuff hiding on my pots that may never be found. Lost on purpose, it's ok cuz we know it's there!
That's a great hand built round.
F#@k a wheel!
Sorce
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Daughter said she likes the lines and the dots, but suggested triangle dots...
..
That's why I consult her!
Likes the brown.
Proportions are good or she would notice.
Sorce
..That's why I consult her!
Likes the brown.
Proportions are good or she would notice.
Sorce
Put in more, and larger, drain holes.
Once you put in more drain holes, there’s no need for wire holes.
Rather than divots for dots, make those rivets.
Not a fan of the zig zags. It would be better to have a raised band. Or two.
Once you put in more drain holes, there’s no need for wire holes.
Rather than divots for dots, make those rivets.
Not a fan of the zig zags. It would be better to have a raised band. Or two.
Well thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. I never thought about the wavy lines until I saw them and someone said "is that a South West style pot"? Never again on a bonsai pot will those show up. As sorce said, they and the dots might get lost...in the glaze. The pot is actually only 3" deep inside measurement and yes I have a tree in mind. The drain hole is 3/4" and I will open it up a bit. I collect Conifers in the Mts around here and will put them in pots that are going to be a little deeper that most would use, but I think the trees are happier and I worry less. My trees will not be entered in a show so I do it for me. Your suggestions are certainly noted. thanks! Peter
PS: I don't know how to make rivets
PS: I don't know how to make rivets
Last edited:
Rivets would be little round globs of clay.
Here’s a picture of a Gyosan. Absolutely top quality. You can see how he positions drain holes. And, he puts a little raised lip around the circumference of the outermost portion of the rim.
Going to be used for a conifer? Please, no glaze!
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Tofukuji got away with it occasionally, but the lines were organic, not angular.
I echo what the others said about drain holes. I’d put one behind each foot, and one in the center, nickel size and quarter size. No tie downs needed.
rivets, also Tofukuji:
I echo what the others said about drain holes. I’d put one behind each foot, and one in the center, nickel size and quarter size. No tie downs needed.
rivets, also Tofukuji:
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
I like the Indian lines. Put a Sagebrush in it and you're good to go! And I like deeper pots in some cases. Actually, most cases because I am still growing rather than holding. There has been every possible comment on the hole sizes, so I think you can safely say that just making them to your own tastes and standards is probably a pretty good bet. Naturally, let us know when you have some for sale.
River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
I like the overall shape and proportion. Color is good. Would leave out the divots and angular lines. Add a band just above the feet similar to this!
Attachments
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I like it. I like the lines as well and could see a pine or a juniper in it.
I also would probably prefer it if it was shallower but it would depend on the tree. I have a tree that might require a deeper pot because of its root structure.
I also would probably prefer it if it was shallower but it would depend on the tree. I have a tree that might require a deeper pot because of its root structure.
Again, thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I know that Conifers are not supposed to be put in glossy, glazed pots, but can I put them in pots that have a matt glaze or an underglaze? I tried to worked with washes and those things are crazy!
Similar threads
