AusBonsai

Glenda wrote:I'm not sure what kvan meant, but I would like to see less contrast between the dark colour and the light colour. If the dark gradually faded into the light colour rather than there being a definite line between them, I think these pots would be perfect. Very nice job, Paul.

Hello Glenda,

I appreciate your feedback.

The application that you described above is one that I have been thinking about myself. I am currently in the testing phase of a few such glaze combination's. Unfortunately, there are some chemical differences between the two types of glazes that seem to be getting in the way of success at this point in time.

Cheers,
Paul

kcpoole wrote:I like these 3 verry much
the finish on them reminds me of pictures of Jupiter all they need is the "Big Red Spot" http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090723.html

G-day Ken,

You have a good eye for detail.

You're only are the second person that I know of to offer this particular observation.

Thanks for the positive feedback and the link.

Cheers,
Paul

Leigh Taafe wrote:I dont like any of the first 4 pots. I dont like the texture, the bubbly effect that you have created is not appealing. I dont like the colour of the glaze, and I dont like the contrasting colours around the lip of the pots. I think I would struggle seeing one of my trees in these pots. The shapes are great, and the feet of the pots are too. Its just the colour and texture that you have created that I dont like.

Leigh,

Thank you very much for the detailed response.

I appreciate that you are willing to point out what does not appeal to you in such a constructive manner. This is the type of feedback that helps me refine my presentation.

Leigh Taafe wrote:Just my personal opinion. You have posted many pots on this forum that I would fight to get my hands on, if only you would sell them.

Your compliment is much appreciated and please keep in mind I do sell my pots.

Have a great day.

Paul

Graeme wrote:Bloody gorgeous pots.

Graeme,

Thank you for the compliment.

Graeme wrote:No need to send that second one to Jamie, he will never have a tree good enough to trial in it.

Jamie, is Graeme correct in this assessment?

Graeme wrote:Now, me on the other hand have exactely the right tree to test in it for you.

What kind of tree do you see in that pot?

Thanks for your input.

Paul

Here are a few more for your viewing pleasure.

This group of pots was made from the same tan colored stoneware clay as the previous set and was finished in a saturated iron glaze called Tomato Red.
Your comments are always appreciated.

Regards,
Paul

Hi Paul, excellent pots, great glazes and extremely well finished, may I ask what cone do you fire to for your glazes please, regards.
James

pjkatich wrote:

MattA wrote:They are all beautiful pots and I would love to see some of my own come out like they have.

Matt,

I appreciate the compliment. How long have you been making bonsai pots?

l

Paul,

I have been making pots for about a month or so, ever since Penny thrust a bit of clay in my hand & told me to make one of my own.

The clay now has me in its grip, I have only been making pinch pots & a few smaller slab built ones to start and have just started experimenting with carving from blocks of leather hard clay. I will post up a thread of some of my pots & how I have been making them.

Your latest creations with the Tomato glaze are beautifully finished. I really like the third pots clear simple line from rim to foot. The other 2 are a little fat bellied creating shadow that is just a little unsettling to my eye, maybe if the feet had been slightly wider set or a little larger to counter the belly?

I had never realised how much goes into making a good pot or how hard it is to get just the right line, shape & form for a pot to work just right. I have only had one firing so far and it taught me alot. I am busy building a load more for my next try. Mainly all mame pots but a few larger pieces are in the works.

Matt

Hello Paul,
Every time I see pots like this I wish that I could throw, but sever back problems stop me. I have a reticulated stone ware glaze that looks similar althought it crawls somewhat futher. I made it using chrome oxide and a white crawling glaze. Have you done something similar.
I really like the glazes and the combination of colours.
Lynette

pjkatich wrote:

Leigh Taafe wrote:I dont like any of the first 4 pots. I dont like the texture, the bubbly effect that you have created is not appealing. I dont like the colour of the glaze, and I dont like the contrasting colours around the lip of the pots. I think I would struggle seeing one of my trees in these pots. The shapes are great, and the feet of the pots are too. Its just the colour and texture that you have created that I dont like.

Leigh,

Thank you very much for the detailed response.

I appreciate that you are willing to point out what does not appeal to you in such a constructive manner. This is the type of feedback that helps me refine my presentation.

Leigh Taafe wrote:Just my personal opinion. You have posted many pots on this forum that I would fight to get my hands on, if only you would sell them.

Your compliment is much appreciated and please keep in mind I do sell my pots.

Have a great day.

Paul

Hi Paul,

How do I get my hands on some of your pots? Do you have a website?

senseijames wrote:Hi Paul, excellent pots, great glazes and extremely well finished, may I ask what cone do you fire to for your glazes please, regards.
James

Hi James,

I appreciate your compliments.

All my pots are fired to cone 10 (approx 2400 degrees F.) in a gas reduction kiln.

Cheers,
Paul

MattA wrote:I have been making pots for about a month or so, ever since Penny thrust a bit of clay in my hand & told me to make one of my own.

The clay now has me in its grip, I have only been making pinch pots & a few smaller slab built ones to start and have just started experimenting with carving from blocks of leather hard clay. I will post up a thread of some of my pots & how I have been making them.

Matt,

Yes, working with clay can be a bit addictive.

You have an excellent instructor in Penny. Under her guidance, I'm sure you will master the needed skills in short order. I look forward to seeing the fruits of your labor when the come out of the kiln.

MattA wrote:Your latest creations with the Tomato glaze are beautifully finished. I really like the third pots clear simple line from rim to foot. The other 2 are a little fat bellied creating shadow that is just a little unsettling to my eye, maybe if the feet had been slightly wider set or a little larger to counter the belly?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this particular set of pots. From your comments it is clear that you are starting to develop a good sense for aesthetics.

MattA wrote:I had never realised how much goes into making a good pot or how hard it is to get just the right line, shape & form for a pot to work just right.

You're spot-on with this comment.

When I signed up for my first wheel throwing class I had no idea what was in store. All I knew, was the bonsai containers I needed all seemed to be overpriced and I was sure that it could not possibly be that hard to make what I needed.

Well, I was in for a big surprise. It turned out that there was a great deal more to making a good pot than I ever imagined. However, once I started I was hooked. I've always been a sucker for a good challenge.

Anyway, it took me 4.5 years of working with clay to gain the skills needed to make a pot large enough for one of my wisteria. Here is a photo of the tree that set me on my current pot making path.
The pot is an oval approximately 46 cm long and 14 cm high. This is how the tree looked back in March of this year.

MattA wrote:I have only had one firing so far and it taught me alot. I am busy building a load more for my next try. Mainly all mame pots but a few larger pieces are in the works.

Good luck with your next load of pots.

Cheers,
Paul

Lynette wrote:Every time I see pots like this I wish that I could throw, but sever back problems stop me. I have a reticulated stone ware glaze that looks similar althought it crawls somewhat futher. I made it using chrome oxide and a white crawling glaze. Have you done something similar.
I really like the glazes and the combination of colours.
Lynette

G-day Lynette,

I appreciate your compliments.

I mixed this particular glaze from scratch. The base recipe is called White mud crack to which I added a bit of red iron oxide to get the coloration.

I tried mixing some chrome with the base formula. The results were an awkward looking pink.

Have a great day.

Paul

Here are a few more for your consideration.

This is a new finish for me.

This set of three pots was made with a brown firing stoneware clay body and finished with an oxide engobe.
Any thoughts on this finish?

Cheers,
Paul

these last ones are really nice
Dull looking like an unglazed finished. Nice
Ken

hi mate

Jamie, is Graeme correct in this assessment?

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTT!!!

thats funny without blowing my own horn in any way he couldnt be further from the truth I have cuttings with more potential then him


love the last dark red ones, not so much a fan of the second lot you put up, they arent my cup of tea, but can appreciate the work that goes into em

jamie