MattA's pots at Bonsai Society of Newcastle Show 2010

[mudlarkpottery]

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Matt's stand and pots at our recent show. He has been invited to display his pots at a Sister City celebration with Ube, Japan in Newcastle in a couple of weeks' time.
Penny.

[Pat K]

Good one Matt....an impressive display of pots!!!

If this is your output after a few months of pottery I'm looking forward to the next couple of years....

AND big congrats for the invitation to the Ube celebration!

Cheers, Pat

[archie1979]

Gees Matt you have been busy

Nice work

[Noramay]

Wow Penny

For a short time Matt has shore accomplished alot and there are some very nice pots in those pics.
Next time we are visiting the relatives in NSW I will have to come and check out yours and Matts collections,
Can't wait, but with the twins only 5 months old now it will still be awhile before we take a 12+ hour road trip up your way.
keep up the good work Matt

Cheers Nora

[MattA]

Many thanks for the kind words everyone and especially to Penny for posting the pics. I didnt get around to taking any of the display or the trees in the show so yours are most appreciated.

Archie, I potted flat out for a month so am now enjoying a well earned rest from pots. Well making atleast, am always thinking pots and trees and a little firend has made a special request for a pot so am trying to decide the best way to make it for her so as not to disappoint.

Pat, I am happy with my progress but have a long way to go before I reach the standard of Penny's or your own pots form what was on display in the main show area. I have been told that you also have a liking for BRT, it is one of my favorite clays to play with.

Nora I have sent you a pm..


Matt

[NathanM]

Matt, awesome looking display there man!! I really like the little green glaze rectangle. Centre back in the first pic and top right in the 2nd pic Let me know if you've still got it hehe
Nathan

[cuwire]

Hey Matt,
Raunchy stuff - glazes on this clay can really make your day, but can I ask - why such big big holes?
Cheers David

[NathanM]

Looking at the "little green rectangle" on a better monitor, the glaze looks a bit blue green, so I hope you know which one I mean Seriously man, I'd be keep to buy it from you

[MattA]

Apologies for the delays in replying,
Nathan pm sent.

David,

I am slightly obsessed with unglazed pots, have been for most of my bonsai life. I now have a total of 8 different clays I use, with differing treatments & firing give a spread of colour white, grey, buff, red, light to dark brown, tan, as well as several different shades of a gritty textual clay. Then there are all the possible combinations & additions that can be made to a clay to alter its colour & finish without the need for 'glaze'.

Once my own kiln is up & running I will start experimenting with more glazes & other finishes as well. Still expect more unglazed than glazed pots but the ratios will get a little more even 75:25

The drainage holes... someone else asked me that same question at the show. I could just say its how they have been done and thats that. There is a couple of reasons/factors.
1/artistic temperament
2/I keep mini's on sand or gravel beds and allow roots to grow thru the holes into the lower level, more room more roots going south (good or bad you choose).
3/ I dont have a watering system & in the case that i have been away & they have dried out, find it easier to rehydrate those pots with larger holes.
4/ In my prior pot collection there were a number of pots with exceptionally large drainage holes & they have always stuck in my memory.
5/ articstic temperament

Matt

[cuwire]

Hi Matt - Thanks for that,

You obviously were proficient in bonsai before you started your pots.
I on the other hand recently started pottery (local evening classes) and after some bowls and vases saw a picture of a realy flash bonsai pot and made my first "bonsai' pot.
Because I only had an image and no detail my first "bonsai" pot was 6" X 7" with one 3/8" hole in the center no legs and glazed on the inside.
Got over most problems but every pot I made the next one had bigger holes. I thought I was about right to stop -

Now you do this to me.

If you wonder what happened to my first pot - I planted it with cactus.

Cheers Matt Thanks

David

[MattA]

David,

I am still very much a novice when it comes to growing bonsai but I guess a few bits have managed to seep into my brain over the years. I am only new to the whole pottery & bonsai pots thing and even with all my years of looking at & using bonsai pots its amazing how much harder it is to make one than I ever thought before doing so.

I would love to see some of your own attempts and dont be swayed by my big holes.

Matt

[senseijames]

G'day Matt, nice pots there mate good variety of styles and sizes, sorry didn't know if you were referring to Davids pots or anyones, here are a few of mine, from back in the 90's.
James

[MattA]

Hey James,

WOW what great pots. How were you making them? Thrown, slabbed, moulded (int/ext) ? I REALLY like the marbled granitestone pot. Great shape and the marbled clay is just awesome, would love to know how you got this effect.

I wouldnt mind seeing my own trees in the twilight blue oval, dark unglazed hex and small glazed round button and keep an eye on your benches coz I am coming to steal that marbled pot

At the moment I am just signing my pots with oxides but am in the process of designing a stamp of a mouse to use for future pots.

Matt

[cuwire]

Hi Matt

First I can not pass up the only chance I will get to show my no legs tiny drainage "bonsai" pot relegated to cactus duty.

cactus_001.jpg

Cheers David

[MattA]

Hi Matt

First I can not pass up the only chance I will get to show my no legs tiny drainage "bonsai" pot relegated to cactus duty.

cactus_001.jpg

Cheers David

David,

That is what we call an accent pot, planted up with all sorts of weeds such as those it currently has add some more till it is crammed full of all sorts viola you have yourself a soe to set beside some towering giant of bonsai.

My first attempts were no better, a few are now relegated to cactus, many more to rubble for drainage layers

Keep trying and you never know what might happen.

Matt