I love this schefflera by Sara Rayner, even though it’s a bit jammed in the photo. It’s completely unique and has a natural uncontrived feel. I found it and the photo below at The Art of Bonsai Project.
Sara Rayner, potter plus bonsai artist
For a long time I thought Sara Rayner just made fine bonsai pots. I didn’t know she made fine bonsai as well. I would venture a guess that I’m not the only one who has held such thoughts, as Sara is quite well known for her pots, and less well known for her trees (at least that’s my impression). Anyway, her trees are every bit worthy of her masterful pots. Their are others in the bonsai world who make their own pots, but few who match both sets of skills so well.
Ponderosa pine and pot by Sara Rayner. Another one of a kind. The tree is unique and the tree pot combination echo that uniqueness.
Soma-Yaki pot. From Bonsai Today issue 61. An example of traditional Tojoku pottery. Only a few still exist (the Tojoku kiln started in 1647). Celadon green porcelain, with the characteristic Soma-yaki crackled pattern. Height 15″ (38cm). Width at the top 17.3″ (44cm).
Takagui Bonsai Museum
The two pots shown here are from the famous Takagui Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. If you’d like to see more exquisite pots from this collection, check out Bonsai Today issue 61.
Sakaida Kakiemon pot. White porcelain decorated with bellflowers. Length 12.8″ (32.5cm).
On the road again
This is our second post from the road. This time it’s The Central California Coast with it’s gnarly wind-shaped Monterey cypresses. We’ll have more on those later after Amy and I have time to sort through hundred of photos. Meanwhile, here’s a few of Gyozan Nakano’s pots that I prepared before we left, plus one old natural bunjin cypress to whet your appetite.
This little taste is pretty representative of what you might expect on California’s Central Coast. It’s from neartica.com by Charles Webber, California Academy of Sciences.
Continue reading ‘Master Potter Nakano Plus One Monterey Cypress’
This exquisitely designed and rendered porcelain bonsai pot is by one of the Kakiemon line of potters. The article in Bonsai Today 44 doesn’t say which Kakiemon made it, but given the fame of the pot and the way it’s discussed in the article, you might assume it’s by the first Sakaida Kakiemon (17th century). It’s impossible to ascertain the size of the pot, as the dimensions given in the original article are almost certainly incorrect (the height is listed at 2.8″ – 7.2cm).
Starting at the top
I’ve spent the last two hours looking for good information and graphics for a post on designing apices (plural for apex, ie the top) for bonsai. Surprisingly (or not), good information on the topic is fairly rare, so you (especially you who requested apex information) will have to wait a day or two. Meanwhile, here’s a little treat for tired eyes.
And finishing at the bottom
The Kakiemon mark (probably by the first Sakaida Kakiemon)
One of Wendy Heller’s pots with a hen-and-chick type succulent that I dug up in my yard.
Some very sweet little pots
A couple years ago I worked with Wendy Heller on a publishing project. In the process, I had the good fortune of getting to know Wendy a bit (phone and email) and decided to purchase a few of her very sweet little pots. I’ve been gradually filling them with little plants (mostly companion type plantings, though I do have one small bonsai in the works), and the more I see them and feel them in my hands, the more I’ve come to appreciate Wendy’s artistry. If you get a chance, check out her site. Meanwhile, here’s a few more photos.
Continue reading ‘Wendy Heller’s Bonsai & Companion Pots’
Recent Comments