Bonsai is in the Blood

Bonsai Blood

After quite a layoff I find myself back doing some more bonsai work.  Having two kids has restricted my time.  Ceramics has also taken over and I have put a great deal of work into making functional objects out of clay.  Please visit my online shop AllinOneCeramicsTW

Anyway, I recently went back to Australia for a visit.  It was there that I looked at some trees that I started to develop years ago.  I picked them out of mum's garden and started wiring and trimming them.  It was the first time in a long while.  I felt the blood rush once again and was absorbed into what I was doing.

On my return back to Taiwan a week later, I once again took my rusty tools out and began refining some of my trees.

These trees featured in earlier posts.

January 2019.  This tree is the one that I experimented with.  Below is the tree almost three years ago.  I repotted the tree today.  The roots are stable and healthy.

February 2016

The bottom branch.  

I think I might leave this little side branch for a while.  

This is one of my favorites.  Current picture Jan 2019

January 2014

January 2019

February 2016.  That small branch on the left of the tree become the main branch.  Always try and make your tree as small as you can.

I hope some of these pictures give you an idea of how to think about your young trees and what plans you can have in store.  This part of bonsai becomes the creative side.  That part is the most fun and enjoyable, at least for me.  It's a slow process but I'm in no rush.  

Take care out there!

AllinOneCeramicsTW

MORE

MORE

Like anything, the more you do of something, the better the result.  I made my first pot in 2014 and since that time I have had many failures and frustrations.  But along the way, you gain experience and you learn what to do differently next time.  I am a believer in making as much as possible, as often as you can.  I only wish I had more time to make because I know that is how you improve.  We all know this.  And it is a lot of fun - fun is not the right word for it actually.  It is a release, bordering on an obsession.  You get absorbed and time stands still when you are working with clay.  I highly recommend it.  

Below are some pots that I have made over the past few months.  If you like any of these pots you can contact me directly or visit my etsy shop at Etsy - AllinoneCeramicsTW

This is one of my favorites.  I like what the wood ash dished up. The inside was clear glazed.  

I used a wooden cooking spoon with grooves to slap the side of this pot while wet.  

This tea bowl holds 600 ml.  It was the first time I used a shino glaze in a wood kiln.  It had an interesting result.

Trying to add some moving parts.

A tea caddy - soda fired.  

This bowl was gas fired.  Porcelain with a shino glaze.  The carved patterns are something new for me.

This bad boy turned out with plenty of character.  The foot ring was a little damaged in the firing.  

Soda fired with shino glaze.

I added a black iron oxide splash to the bisqued pot.

And a swirl to finish it off.

A new glaze.  I call it soft yellow.  White when thicker, brown when thinner, and yellow when applied just right.

I like the variation. 

Black iron oxide decoration.  

I like this guy.  Everything worked.

He is only small but very drinkable.

Soda fired for 14 hours.

A larger squared off tea bowl.

Soft yellow glaze applied.

Another smaller tea cup.  I like how he looks old.

Sake bottle.

Pours very nicely.

However, has a slight leakage near the foot.  If you drank quickly you could use it, otherwise it might just have to be for show.

I make a few sake cups to go with the bottle.  

It must be the camera angle.  They are wonky but have a better balance than the photos suggest.

Of the 6 that I made, I think this one is my favorite.

Small tea pot.

Clear glazed and then wood fired.

A small tea cut/sake cup.

A tea caddy with Japanese style lid design.

Soft yellow again.

The last one.  Shino on a mix of different clay bodies.  

Always trying to make the pot feel/look handmade.

One of your fingers can fill in this indentation.

 The more you practice the better your skill level, but not only that.  You become more efficient, you recycle wastage less, you make more pots, and probably the most important result of all of this...you will start to develop more creativity, trying new shapes, experimenting more with old shapes, and moving further along the road of producing a pot with character.

Take care out there!

Etsy - AllinOneCeramicsTW