Need opinions on my pot

[Mike Hennigan]

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!

You can put them in a neon pink pot. I think our aesthetic understanding of which pots suit a conifer is ever expanding. When bonsai culture was first established in the United States I think the ideas around which pots are suitable for conifers was limited to a very narrow field of “brown”. Probably more narrow than how the Japanese potted their conifers at the time. Take for example wood fired pottery. If you put an “unglazed” pot into a wood kiln it will always come out glazed. Maybe very lightly glazed depending on the firing, but the wood ash deposits interacting with the clay does essentially create a glaze. I love the wood fired sheen of Tom Benda’s “unglazed” pots. You will notice a distinct difference between these and an unglazed electric fired pot. Going on this alone, you will find that many people put conifers in “glazed” pots. Technically speaking. It’s just depends on if it looks right to you or the intended viewer. That’s my ramble.

 

[Bolero]

I think of it as a Spaghatti Bowl with drainage holes....what was your inspiration ? what did you have in mind for a Bonsai planting for this size and look of bowl ??? Describe the bowl for us... Sorry for being critical but i dont want you to think of it as a Bonsai bowl.

 

[August44]

Sorry to you also Bolero...that was a rather rude reply to say the least. What was your inspiration for writing something like that? Did you just wake up feeling mean? I am very new to this pottery building and WILL think of it as a bonsai pot. Judging by previous posts, that would be ok too!

 

[Dav4]

Sorry to you also Bolero...that was a rather rude reply to say the least. What was your inspiration for writing something like that? Did you just wake up feeling mean? I am very new to this pottery building and WILL think of it as a bonsai pot. Judging by previous posts, that would be ok too!

Don't take Bolero seriously... if you've ever seen any of his trees or bothered to read a few of his posts here, you'll understand and give his comments the weight they deserve... . Fwiw, I like the pot... size,depth,color etc... but agree about the zig zags. Keep your designs simple for the time being, but build up your skillset and repertoire over time. Keep up the good work.

 

[cmeg1]

looks a fun hobby....now gow make a 100 ,right?

 

[Anthony]

Hey @Bolero instead of hitting @Peter44 , in the face with
a pie and risk making enemies.
Why not encourage him to try his design on an oval pot.

He could slab build, try carving from a solid block of clay or
wheel turn , take a leaf shape out of the base, and
press together for an oval shape.

If he knew his wet to greenware shrinkage and then greenware
to fired shrinkage, he could make a pot for a tree.

So if the tree was say 12 inches tall, the pot could be 2/3 the
height say 8 inches long
Or the pot could be 3/4 the height and use a 9 inch pot.
Being 12 inches tall the trunk would be at 1 to 6 around 2 inches
wide and so would the side of the pot be around 2 inches.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Forsoothe!]

I think of it as a Spaghatti Bowl with drainage holes....what was your inspiration ? what did you have in mind for a Bonsai planting for this size and look of bowl ??? Describe the bowl for us... Sorry for being critical but i dont want you to think of it as a Bonsai bowl.

An Dwarf Alpine Spaghetti Tree:

A Golden Spaghetti Tree:

Sea Spaghetti in an antique Chinese "hungry-man" rice bowl:

I think judging a pot alone, without a tree in reference is premature, at best.

 

[August44]

I looked up bolero in Webster. This is what it says "
Definition of bolero

1 : a Spanish dance characterized by sharp turns, stamping of the feet, and sudden pauses in a position with one arm arched over the head

That pretty much explains things....

 

[Bolero]

Peter44 I explained in my last sentence of the post my intent of the post... I wasn't trying to be a smart ass nasty critic I was just being brutally honest and you never addressed my questions ???
Don't be so sensitive Peter, this is just a Internet forum...
Dav4 I take anything you say with a Grain of Salt...Also FWIW the Zig Zags were the Saving Grace of the pot...
Anthony I don't think changing pot shape will advance his outlook of a Bonsai pot...
Forsoothe!, I love your Humor, missed you at the GR show, were you showing ?
To all others, Forward Men.....

 

[Bolero]

Peter44...Bolero was my USAF call sign Back in the Day..... but thank you for your research and alternative...and FWIW I appreciate the Description of your Bolero and yep that's pretty much me...

 

[Forsoothe!]

Peter44 I explained in my last sentence of the post my intent of the post... I wasn't trying to be a smart ass nasty critic I was just being brutally honest and you never addressed my questions ???
Don't be so sensitive Peter, this is just a Internet forum...
Dav4 I take anything you say with a Grain of Salt...Also FWIW the Zig Zags were the Saving Grace of the pot...
Anthony I don't think changing pot shape will advance his outlook of a Bonsai pot...
Forsoothe!, I love your Humor, missed you at the GR show, were you showing ?
To all others, Forward Men.....

Always, almost won Best of Show. Would have too, except for the other 97 trees.

 

[sorce]

Also FWIW the Zig Zags were the Saving Grace of the pot...

I totally agree with this, as the shape IS what it is and the lines trick the eye to forget about it a little.

When I took my pots to @Walter Pall for review, he spoke similarly about the "general accepted shapes" In a way. I feel he may agree with @Bolero's assessment.

Tell you what, I'd make 100 of the other more tapered rounds up there before this one.

The market for this pot is small.

The market for the other round is huge.

How long can stuff sit on your shelves?

Fired clay has no nutritional value.

Sorce

 

[Bolero]

Forsoothe! Wow good to hear you almost won 1st place, will have to see you at the 2020 show...

 

[Forsoothe!]

Somebody else used the call sign Bolero in war movie. You weren't a WWI pilot were you?

 

[Forsoothe!]

I will be in GR or dead!

 

[sorce]

Somebody else used the call sign Bolero in war movie. You weren't a WWI pilot were you?

Bolero fought in the Revolutionary War.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Bolero used to get his weed from Thomas Jefferson when George Washington was dry.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Bolero ran the Michigan leg of the Underground Railroad.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Bolero shoed Paul Revere's horse.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Bolero brought smallpox to the Amazon.

Sorce