Test - Limestone Bear?

Test.
This is the only "rock" that I have...........anyone else see a Polar Bear?
Cheers G

Hi G,

It's a very interesting stone.....Maybe Chris could size it larger so we could see it better ! Yes.. it could be a bear or an interesting shelter stone but the center of the stone is shadowed.

There's really great limestone in your area, did you collect this stone ? You're so fortunate to be in an area that produces fine limestone. I'll show some Vancouver Island stones collected by Anton soon.

Thanks for sharing...

Norma

Hi Gman. Hi Norma. ...Gman's posted photo is copied from his avatar which is only 139 pixels wide, yet on the post, it is about 10 pixels narrower than in the avatar. Either quickly loses integrity when enlarged-- this isn't a saved "big photo" reduced to thumbnail size. I think the stone works well as a polar bear-- very well. I've seen another beast stone (quite large & of Chinese origin on an old Northern-style stand) that is very similar displayed by a PVSG enthusiast. I'll try to locate its picture.

When I noted your stone as "great," Norma, in its ikebana suiban, I truly meant it. I meant it with feelings I share for Lisa Tajima's Pop Bonsai: Fun with Stones..., which is different from Mark's focus on tradition when complaining of artificial stone (e.g., Corian) suiban. There are MANY traditions which have led to practice we see, today, and those continue to evolve including respect for past traditions as well as establishing new ways of viewing and reading appreciation of stones.

Gman's stone mounting is sparse leaving great room to imagine an scene or object taken from life. He is fortunate to not have to hide anything under sand or in a wood socket. He is thoughtful to not cut-off any of the stone to improve the image-- at least, as far as I can tell. My preference would be to have the seat extend very modestly beyond the bear's rear foot & to the same modest extension beyond the front foot (thus the stone's base centered horizontally). Gman's choice of placement for the front foot is near ideal, for me, though he could choose totally differently.

I would much prefer a wood to a stone base, but, again, that is a matter of taste. Wood would be suitable for modern Japanese suiseki style that has evolving tradition.

The photo doesn't reveal much about the space between front & rear legs. Having something appear hidden which you would expect to be revealed on the photo is distracting, but I like what I see.

Anton's stones from Vancouver BC are often jet black from an acid wash that is suggestive of modern Lingbi stones. The color of Gman's stone for a polar bear allusion seems natural as some stones can be found or cleaned mechanically.

Gman's bear (woefully enlarged image):


PVSG member Nam's Chinese beast (socketed shallowly into its wooden base):

Chris/Norma,
Thanks for all the information…….. and I can see that I need to do a lot more reading and studying on this wonderful subject. I've been fortunate to work and live where there are some wonderful limestone areas. Even though I had no understanding or knowledge about the art of Suiseki, I’ve collected many pieces of interesting limestone (and other rocks) that I’ve incorporated into our yard.
This piece came from an area (on the West Coast of Vancouver Island) where the limestone was very light in colour; the attached photo was just after I collected it, its a larger sized photo and provides more detail - there are two other feet/legs on the other side but it changes the look and character significantly. I’ve only cleaned/polished it and the stand/seat came about very quickly as I looked for something to put it on for the photo. This piece is so interesting to me as in that it has a different character within each angle/side.
I’m also very privileged to have found Anton Nijhuis who has befriended me and is a great inspiration to me with this hobby and especially with Bonsai, which seem to go hand in hand.
Sincerely
Gman

...for sharing ,...my bear (flint nodule)

Left:

Front :

Top: