AusBonsai

Out of frustration at the commercial offering for pots and the fact that I needed quite a few I started about 12 months ago on the journey to make my own.
It has been an interesting journey which I've logged in my blog if you are interested in a read. From zero experience in ceramics, I've had to learn a lot about clay and glazes; from managing it in the plastic state all the way through to deformation free stoneware temperature firing. It's a really interesting craft and there's a lot of science there too that you need to get your head around if you want to flatten the learning curve.

I'm about at a stage now after having made about 20, where I'm almost happy to have my pots seen in public. In fact I did have three of them in the recent local bonsai show.

I've just signed up to the forum and have been working out how to navigate and upload etc and with that I'll get some pictures uploaded over the weekend.

In the mean time you might want to have a look at my blog at http://www.bonsaipotterycoy.blogspot.com

Thanks

Scroll down half a page to find it.
> Choose file > Select the picture > Add the file
It'll then be listed above the Option/Upload attachment option where you'll be given the option to write a file comment, place online or delete file.
Look forward to seeing some of your pots.

EDIT: The above post was completely re-written in the time it took me to write this reply.

Your pots are really lovely.
I look forward to seeing more of them.
Penny.

Awesome pots....really from zero to what you have in your blog???!?! I would defintely quite the day job....

Can i buy one...maybe two?

I thoroughly enjoyed your blog and admiring your work. I am very struck with your ovals. It is difficult to get good, large ovals

My compliments! Exquisite work.

Hey potter it is very clear in the piece that you are one talented guy. I have done 2 terms of pottery in the past and know the committment ( physically and financially) it takes to get to this level in 12months. I can only say that it is inspiring to see your work from the point of view that i would like to pursue pottery again in the future as well as there are obviously going to be some more high quality Aussie bonsai pots to pick from in future !!! Thanks for sharing and best of luck keepm coming please !!!

Post up some prices and let us at 'em!

Just in time for spring, prices if possible please.

Thanks for your kind remarks.
My goal has been to produce a high quality artisarnal product. As you may see from the blog, that has so far resulted in lots of experiments, lots of frustrations and lots of learning and I still have a long way to go. As with most things the more you learn the more there is to know. I wanted to make a larger size pot right from the start and figured that if could solve the problems at that scale I could always go down in size later and it should be easier.

Here are some pictures that aren't on the blog, of a couple of shapes I'm working on. Both of these pots are only at bisque so far. They are my pots 21 and 22. The clay is Clayworks RGH stoneware and it has that little reddish iron oxide colour still at bisque but fires a buff colour at maturity. The target is cone 6 glazing.

The first is the rectangular pot. At this point it is about 410 x 300 x 100 and will come down another 5% on glaze firing.
And the second is an oval pot which is at bisque is about 440 x 330 x 90 and will also shrink further.
Happy Potter

And thank you Waltron for the tip on picture posting, I needed it. Once you know its easy isn't it.
Cheers,
Happy Potter

Oh yes there were a couple of questions on prices. Well all in good time, soon. I know what the imported pots sell for and like everyone else in Australia with all things can't see how they make them for that price! The pots and glazes are still not quite where I want them yet but I'm not far off. When I have some to sell you'll be the first to know.
Cheers,
Happy Potter

Your pots are incredibly symmetrical, very professional looking. What process do you use to make them?

Most likely slip cast Scott.

Just checked the blog - Look at some of the earlier entries for details on making plaster moulds.
Slip casting is a great method to produce a number of pots all the same. The drawback is you need a new mould for every new pot shape and size.

Scott Roxburgh wrote:Your pots are incredibly symmetrical, very professional looking. What process do you use to make them?

shibui wrote:Most likely slip cast Scott.

Just checked the blog - Look at some of the earlier entries for details on making plaster moulds.
Slip casting is a great method to produce a number of pots all the same. The drawback is you need a new mould for every new pot shape and size.

Happy Potter mentions fairly early in his blog that the pots are made by pressing clay into the plaster moulds.

After just over a year, I like what you are producing HP, both the pots and especially the glazes. Keep up the good work. Australia needs our own Gordon Duffett.

Cheers,
Mojo