Hi guys,
I had an idea for a "pot" I wanted to try out, but I have a few questions
essentially I want to create a free-form structure that looks sort of like a retaining wall in a garden. here is an example that sort of explains what I mean - [url]https://www.fairviewpondsandgardens.com/images/RetainingWalls/Retaining%20Wall%20&%20Mega%20Berg.jpg[/url]
just try to imagine that it goes all the way around.
I would use small tiles/stones for the bricks.
The questions I have are, what should I search for to find the kinds of stone I might need? I tried looking for small stones, tiles, etc, but I am not finding what I need.
Also, for anyone out there who knows anything about tile work, what kind of mortar would I want to use? waterproof mosaic grout? cement? Points to consider are that I would prefer it to be easy to work with, but not at the expense of water-sealing properties.
Thanks
I'd do it the easy way. Make it out of clay, use tools to mark out the 'stones', then fire it. You can use various glaze techniques to create the color variations, if you like.
You might also make the individual 'tiles' out of clay, then mount them with slip on a 'liner' of clay. Again, once it's all glazed and fired, it should be waterproof.
That's the only way I know of to get the look of cut stone.
Most larger cities have pottery supply stores that sell clay, glazes and tools. They usually have a kiln on the premises, too, and will fire your project for a small fee.
For most miniatures/model building, I think individual stones are hand carved from styrofoam, then sealed and painted. To me, that seems more tedious and time consuming than making a clay planter. And you would still have the problem of finding a good way to waterproof your finished product. JMO, though ... probably because pottery is one of my hobbies.
(If there is a clay supply store in your area, check it out. Don't be intimidated. Clay is easy to work with.)
You might also make the individual 'tiles' out of clay, then mount them with slip on a 'liner' of clay. Again, once it's all glazed and fired, it should be waterproof.
That's the only way I know of to get the look of cut stone.
Most larger cities have pottery supply stores that sell clay, glazes and tools. They usually have a kiln on the premises, too, and will fire your project for a small fee.
For most miniatures/model building, I think individual stones are hand carved from styrofoam, then sealed and painted. To me, that seems more tedious and time consuming than making a clay planter. And you would still have the problem of finding a good way to waterproof your finished product. JMO, though ... probably because pottery is one of my hobbies.
(If there is a clay supply store in your area, check it out. Don't be intimidated. Clay is easy to work with.)
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applestar
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3 pre-made possibilities I can think of:
(1) German architectural Anchor stone blocks (these are expensive but precision made): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_Stone_Blocks
(2) Brick and Mortar -- children's toy with enough blocks to build famous architectural buildings/structures. I've also seen another kind that makes small houses and farm buildings. Comes with mortar that dissolves in water so you can rebuild over and over again (obviously you'll need to use something else) This was the first link I could find.
https://www.learningthings.com/Categories/CRAFTS.htm
(3) Miniatures -- I've seen bags of bricks and simulated stone blocks in minature dollhouse catalogs (usually 1" scale). I imagine you can get them for model train landscapes as well, which would give you a range of scale sizes. These could be used to "brick-face" an existing pot.
(1) German architectural Anchor stone blocks (these are expensive but precision made): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_Stone_Blocks
(2) Brick and Mortar -- children's toy with enough blocks to build famous architectural buildings/structures. I've also seen another kind that makes small houses and farm buildings. Comes with mortar that dissolves in water so you can rebuild over and over again (obviously you'll need to use something else) This was the first link I could find.
https://www.learningthings.com/Categories/CRAFTS.htm
(3) Miniatures -- I've seen bags of bricks and simulated stone blocks in minature dollhouse catalogs (usually 1" scale). I imagine you can get them for model train landscapes as well, which would give you a range of scale sizes. These could be used to "brick-face" an existing pot.
hm.
thanks Kisal, though for someone with no access to a kiln and no clay working skills, I would call that the hard way
In any case the stones suggested in the other post look to be too regular - precision made is nice, but those are like perfect rectangles - I was looking more for a rough hewn look.
Ill take a look for more kinds of toys you mentioned to see if I can find what I need.
if I can find a better example ill also post, so that it will be clearer what I am looking for
thanks Kisal, though for someone with no access to a kiln and no clay working skills, I would call that the hard way
In any case the stones suggested in the other post look to be too regular - precision made is nice, but those are like perfect rectangles - I was looking more for a rough hewn look.
Ill take a look for more kinds of toys you mentioned to see if I can find what I need.
if I can find a better example ill also post, so that it will be clearer what I am looking for
Sorry! I thought you wanted your end product to look like the stone retaining wall you pictured. Clearly I misunderstood. (I got excited, because I like making things like the planter you've envisioned. )
Mosaic tiles and chips are readily available. Most tile sellers carry them. The only ones I've seen and worked with, though, have been glazed and shiny. I did once see some lovely handmade ones from Mexico that were unglazed, but they cost a fortune, and that was decades ago. I have no idea where you would look for such a thing these days.
)Mosaic tiles and chips are readily available. Most tile sellers carry them. The only ones I've seen and worked with, though, have been glazed and shiny. I did once see some lovely handmade ones from Mexico that were unglazed, but they cost a fortune, and that was decades ago. I have no idea where you would look for such a thing these days.
Last edited by Kisal on Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
you might want to try your local pet store maybe in the reptile section, I've found some cool stuff like this.....
[url=https://s549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/?action=view¤t=005-5.jpg][img]https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/th_005-5.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://s549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/?action=view¤t=004-11.jpg][img]https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/th_004-11.jpg[/img][/url]
And this to....
[url=https://s549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/?action=view¤t=003-14.jpg][img]https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/th_003-14.jpg[/img][/url]
HOPE THIS HELPS
[url=https://s549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/?action=view¤t=005-5.jpg][img]https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/th_005-5.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://s549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/?action=view¤t=004-11.jpg][img]https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/th_004-11.jpg[/img][/url]
And this to....
[url=https://s549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/?action=view¤t=003-14.jpg][img]https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii365/dragondude_2009/th_003-14.jpg[/img][/url]
HOPE THIS HELPS
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Victrinia Ridgeway
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:46 am
- Location: Bremerton, WA
If you want to see some strange and yet sometimes inspired images... check out this link... the castle ruins and Penelope have always been among my favorites.
[url]https://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/lenz.php[/url]
It might inspire you to think of a different way to express what you are trying to do... or maybe it'll just entertain you.
Kindest regards,
Victrinia[/url]
[url]https://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/lenz.php[/url]
It might inspire you to think of a different way to express what you are trying to do... or maybe it'll just entertain you.
Kindest regards,
Victrinia[/url]
Last edited by Victrinia Ridgeway on Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
kaisal,
I do want it to look like that, give or take, so don't be dissapointed just yet
I showed that link to clarify that I was looking for more rustic looking stones, as compared to the ''too perfect' ones I saw in another post.
the bricks in the 'make your own' brick page that you posted are actually pretty close to what I would want to try (though I would be open to try other styles too), which sort of resemble the bricks in the original picture, but I would rather find premade (or precut, if they are from actual stone) ones in a bag or something.
sorry if I was a little confusing with my posting
I do want it to look like that, give or take, so don't be dissapointed just yet
I showed that link to clarify that I was looking for more rustic looking stones, as compared to the ''too perfect' ones I saw in another post.
the bricks in the 'make your own' brick page that you posted are actually pretty close to what I would want to try (though I would be open to try other styles too), which sort of resemble the bricks in the original picture, but I would rather find premade (or precut, if they are from actual stone) ones in a bag or something.
sorry if I was a little confusing with my posting
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Victrinia Ridgeway
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:46 am
- Location: Bremerton, WA
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Victrinia Ridgeway
- Senior Member
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:46 am
- Location: Bremerton, WA
It is a rather amazing peice of work.... each brick was hand made and assembled. Nick is eccentric, even vulgar, but he's also a genius in his own right. Sometimes he surprises me with the fine and sensitive quality of his work, and then you see root over baby head plantings and one wonders if it's just whimsy or bizarre. Maybe it's both... He's a psychoanalytic's dream come true... lol
Glad you enjoyed it.
Victrinia
He's a psychoanalytic's dream come true... lolGlad you enjoyed it.
Victrinia
Well, I hope Nick knows I'm gonna steal his root of tank idea. Just gotta find me a tank and a tree.
As far as making a stone pot, do what man used to do, walk through a forest and find some rocks. Use mortar or cement, and make the pot. If you use cement, you can "glue" the rock together, then once fully dry, add a layer on the inside sorta like frosting and make a smooth walled pot on the inside to seal it up water tight. Drill holes in the bottom, or insert bamboo or the like to have it dry with holes. Once done, it'll have the look of the retaingin wall, with the structure and support of a cement pot.
As far as making a stone pot, do what man used to do, walk through a forest and find some rocks. Use mortar or cement, and make the pot. If you use cement, you can "glue" the rock together, then once fully dry, add a layer on the inside sorta like frosting and make a smooth walled pot on the inside to seal it up water tight. Drill holes in the bottom, or insert bamboo or the like to have it dry with holes. Once done, it'll have the look of the retaingin wall, with the structure and support of a cement pot.
I love this one by Nick.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/?action=view¤t=Acerbuergerianumroot-over-gargoyle.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/th_Acerbuergerianumroot-over-gargoyle.jpg[/img][/url]
I've found out that the tree totally crushed the gargoyle. You can see where it's already starting to break it up; the arm is broken off and the leg is cracked.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/?action=view¤t=Acerbuergerianumroot-over-gargoyle.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/th_Acerbuergerianumroot-over-gargoyle.jpg[/img][/url]
I've found out that the tree totally crushed the gargoyle. You can see where it's already starting to break it up; the arm is broken off and the leg is cracked.
