@jriddell88 thanks
. Much appreciated.
@sorce I agree with most of what you said completely. Traditional Japanese bonsai is beautiful exactly because of the rigorousness of it, the rules that make it such a complicated art of masking myriads of constraints and wrapping them in a facade of elegant simplicity.
On the other hand, I really, really enjoy the 'naturalistic' approach of Walter Pall, the outlandishness of Nick Lenz's displays, Mirai's sometimes odd tree choices that deviate from the standards, extravagant pots like the ones made by Atelier Bonsai Element. I see this new age approach as rather a progression on the 1000 year old art rather that an attempt to usurp it. Just like what grimdark is for the fantasy genre.
As I see it, more modern approaches focus on the whole of the presentation, putting the pot, the display and the tree on equal footing to create a visual effect, rather than using all other elements to augment the tree. This for me is an art in itself. It has little to do with traditional Japanese bonsai (mostly the horticultural practices) and that is good. As you said, putting the two together will sometimes make them clash. But if one's focus is strictly artistic, visual, and one puts age old preconceptions aside, I think one can see both as superb forms of art and craftsmanship. Somewhat like enjoying wine... you can do it in a fancy three piece suite from a crystal glass, but it will taste just as good at home, from a mug, in front of a warm fireplace.
It's just a question of what you take as a point of reference: the tradition or the aesthetic value.
And that being said, I started making these pots because I wanted to do something completely different from what I do at work. I wanted to do something with my hands, find an outlet for all the pent up energy that I can't let loose in an office with 20 more people. So far, I've only made a few... what I posted and two or three more doodles besides. They're not tailored for my trees (honestly I don't really have any trees far enough along to be out of the training pots) but rather on the spur of the moment, as I want to try different shapes and sizes, geometries, etc. I post them here because, in the end, I would love to make them functional and actually useful to someone. So feedback (as much as can be gained without actually seeing them in person) is what will get me closer to functionality.
As for selling, I'm really not sure anyone would buy them. If I can sell a couple locally to cover the cost of clay and firing and be able to go on making them without drowning in pots or wasting money for something nobody will ever use, I'd be happy. If not, I'll probably keep making them even if it's a money waster because hey... I wasted a lot more money on more useless shit
.
@Anthony curious how that pot you're talking about turns out
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