AusBonsai

It's more a case of I have specific ideas for what I want, followed by not knowing many potters. indeed I only know 2, and one is in America, which makes the postage horrendous, not to mention the risks about it arriving in one piece. I've decided a mould is the best way to get what "I" want.

paddles wrote: a case of I have specific ideas for what I want

It was this & this alone that started me on the journey of making my own

EDit: a couple hundred pots later & I am still to make the one I originally wanted to commission
On the up side I found a better pot for the tree

It looks like you could make the pot yourself. Why not do that and just let the potter fire it.
Lynette

Is that the mould or the pot? It looks like the actual pot to me???
I like it a lot! And I am sure you had lots of fun.

my attempts at working clay myself have not been that successful. I am still drying the beginnings of my mould. after listening/reading about shrinkage of the clay, I've worked out that the mould needs to be 3 inches longer, and maybe another inch wider. I'm going to dry it a bit more before adding to it. then to make the pot itself, then the exterior mould.. holy cow.. what work I will have to do.. it's going to take me months to do it all.

Just keep at it paddles you'll be surprised by what you learn and the next one will be quicker although you are being very ambitious for a first shot. But sometimes it's the only way to get what you want and it is great to see another bonsaista getting to understand what it really takes to make pots.
Cheers,
Happy Potter

here is a quick and dirty virt of the one day/maybe finish??

Hi Paddles, you have done well.
but i must ask why you are going to make an inner and outer mold ? you can make a slump from what you have

that's what the potter has asked for...

so you are doing all this work for the potter. mmm
not sure why they need both , unless they are not sure what they are doing themselves.
are they intending to pour a slip mold ?

no idea, I think it's more a case of he's asked for an external mould, I can't make that without the internal mould???

Paddles, pile some moist dirt on a board and shape it to the negative of what you want. Place a cloth (old sheet,) over it then roll out a slab of clay and place it over the hump and shape it to fit adding the texture you want and/or feet. when the clay is firm, lift it off the mould and refine the edge, add drainage holes, wire holes, etc. and let it dry slowly (cover loosely with a plastic bag). Then, when it's dry, GET A POTTER WHO KNOWS WHAT HE/SHE IS DOING AND GET THEM TO FIRE IT FOR YOU.
Here are a couple of pots similar to what you want. Ryan Neil took one back to the US. It will be interesting to see what he puts in it.
In the mould photo, I've slopped plaster over the dirt to make the mould as I wanted to make several pots of similar shape.
Penny.

well time has passed... I decided to mess around with some "craft" clay (the only sort of clay I can get in Echuca...) I wanted to play with what sort of feet I was going to do etc (I have my doubts that the "feet" as stands will support it. if it stays together, I had this idea, that when I got it all laid out, i'd flip it and smooth the inside... yeah, right... flipped it and found it's stuck quite firmly to the mould, I will be able to pull the mould out, leaving the foil that I lined the mould with, behind. As I look at it, I think I don't like it... will have to wait and see... once it's set, I'll take photos, and photoshop the trees in... we'll see. (yes, I know I should have used one type of clay, but I sent hubby to get more clay midway, and of course he came home with different coloured clay.. so I restarted.... sigh... I also realised that I had to work thinner, or it was going to end up really thick at the base... lol

Paddles, now that's an idea definitely worth persuing.
Penny.

IT FELL APART...

I have discussed things with friends, and will attempt again... now.. to try to source some better clay