natural rock Buddha

I would like your expert suiseki comments on my stone please. Is it a good suiseki? If not, then please can you say why not.

Where does your stone come from? Is it sandstone, is it form the beach?

thanks for your question, i am new to suiseki and find these interesting.
i thimk the stone is either mica or limestone. i dont know how to do patina yet so the stone looks limestone as it is rough. i view the stone as budha as it has a tummy. my friends view it as virgin mary. please comment.

the stone was found in the river of zambales, philippines in the area of mt pinatubo.
regards win

Do you want my honest opinion?

From what I've learned, I dont think Limestone or Sandstone can be classified as Suiseki? It is to soft. I think.
Your stone is not very representative of Buddha for me. So its not a Figure stone, IMO
It is not a picture stone either
Mountain stone ?-- to light for it

So I think not,Sorry pal, your stone is not suiseki material. Its just a very nice pebble. Go to the river again, try again. Keep your stone if it makes you happpy.

One thing I can tell you, Bonsai and suiseki, ikabana and all the arts, are all about your own taste before anything else.

Love and light
Andre

You have given an edit reason as wanting to have expert opinion on your stone. I think leaving this as an open question would be a much better way of getting the desired response rather than a poll. In a poll, no-one can comment.

fiona wrote:You have given an edit reason as wanting to have expert opinion on your stone. I think leaving this as an open question would be a much better way of getting the desired response rather than a poll. In a poll, no-one can comment.

Thanks fiona, how do you delete the poll and only request comments on my stone.
regards win

Done.

fiona wrote:Done.

Fiona, thank you very much

Andre Beaurain wrote:Do you want my honest opinion?

From what I've learned, I dont think Limestone or Sandstone can be classified as Suiseki? It is to soft. I think.
Your stone is not very representative of Buddha for me. So its not a Figure stone, IMO
It is not a picture stone either
Mountain stone ?-- to light for it

So I think not,Sorry pal, your stone is not suiseki material. Its just a very nice pebble. Go to the river again, try again. Keep your stone if it makes you happpy.

One thing I can tell you, Bonsai and suiseki, ikabana and all the arts, are all about your own taste before anything else.

Love and light
Andre

Thanks for your honest opinion.
I'll reserve my comment on your opinion of my stone, once i have learned more about suiseki. however, i have tried to bore a hole at the bottom of the stone thru an ice pick, can't do it, the stone is hard. anyway, i will keep my lucky peeble. it makes me happy.

What disturbed me is on your statement that soft stone cannot be classified as suiseki material. ( although this is another topic but since this was brought up, i might as well include this in my topic. )

I have stone and rocks that i found in the mountains that are soft in the outside but very hard inside. like the mountain stones serpertine and dunite. are these stones suiseki material. let me show you an example. the pictures below, the mountain shape stone, i have remove the soft part surface of the rock by soaking, water and hard brush. but the two remaining pictures that has already a designed of a dog and a dinosaur. all i did was use a pressurized water to clean it. i won't take my chance to deform the figure. can you called these dog and dinosaur suiseki or it is a fossil rock. please comment. again thank you. win

Hi Winwin.

Answering the question of whether your stone is suiseki relates more to what an enthusiast accepts as suiseki than to the qualities of your stone. For you, the stone is appreciated for its contour representing "Buddha." It is clearly appreciated as a "viewing stone" if mounted for viewing on its own & not as a personal accessory (e.g., jewelry). For you, it is not appreciated as a fossil, mineral or gemstone; it is not appreciated as a garden stone or crafted stone (unless the contour is no longer natural). As a viewing stone presenting the form of the Buddha, your first stone is of interest to members, here.

Limestone is commonly collected as suiseki, shangshi, Chinese scholar rocks and viewing stones. Furuya-ishi & Seigaku-ishi are two limestones commonly collected as suiseki in Japan.

Regarding suiseki, we try to learn together. There is a enthusiast from the Phillipines on IBC who tries harder than others to distinguish suiseki as distinctive. I'd recommend your contacting Alex (IBC name: "Ogie"-- linked HERE) who lives in Manila to identify others open to learning suiseki if you are interested primarily in that form of stone appreciation. Recently, Sonny (IBC name: "Sanch6571") has posted from the Philippines & demonstrated skill in stone mounting. You might also seek books & online articles-- clubs which practice bonsai in your area might have a library with books dedicated to stone appreciation-- including suiseki (Japanese), shangshi (modern Chinese), Chinese scholar rock (traditional Chinese) & "viewing stone" appreciation. There is an important international bonsai (and stone) appreciation event scheduled in your country in November, which should draw many enthusiasts-- see http://abff2012philippines.com.

On IBC, "Peterbrod" (look at past posts) often displays limestone (from the Slovak Republic) as "suiseki" or their closely related cousins "viewing stones." He mounts them expertly in suiseki-style. Some question whether Peter's limestone should be considered suiseki because he dips many in acid to clean them and enhance their surface color. Suiseki should present the stone's natural surface.

Suiseki are typically dark/deep in color, moderately hard, from 3" -12" in length (though exceptions are allowed) and attract moisture to the 'skin' of the stone's surface allowing the natural translucence of the stone to be appreciated. Stones require aging to develop this skin-- "stone aging"/yoseki is a subject you can research on IBC or by internet search.

Hope that helps as an introduction. Good hunting!

Now I would call that response from Chris!...
a win win situation, R i g h t! Schuck
I would have said yes, just for the shape alone, if nothing else.
But looks to me like this stone would look much nicer wet,
and water retention is also a good suiseki quality!...
I see the Buddha, the Virgin Mary, the Madonna and child,
all possible and more too. So if this pebble speaks to your heart,
listen to it, it is a "feeling thing" and yes it will "make you feel" happy...
I whistle at my stones, as if they were a beautiful women!,
my wife busy some were in the background!,
always answers! "thank you honey"...

Well there you have it, from the experts mouths.

If limestone can be calssified as suiseki, then what about sandstone?

Hi Andre

Sandstone is OK, just as long, as it hard enough to not fall apart when handeled. This kind of stone is nice in a weath suiban.

Kind regards Yvonne

Yvonne Graubaek wrote:Hi Andre

Sandstone is OK, just as long, as it hard enough to not fall apart when handeled. This kind of stone is nice in a weath suiban.

Kind regards Yvonne

Hi yvonne,

thanks for the info, can we further ask you a question?

pumice rocks ( volcanic rocks) is a little harder than sandstone. when mt pinatubo erupted there are so many of this pumice rocks in my hometown. please advice if pumice rocks can be suiseki.

thanks win

Hi Win

I dont really know this kind of stone....but if it is hard, and has a shape like suiseki, would I guess it will work....Lava is used in other countries, among them Japan.
I hope someone else will give you a reply...and please...send us a photo.

Kind regards Yvonne

I see the Buddha, the Virgin Mary, the Madonna and child,
all possible and more too.

Stoner Are you Stoned?

ha hahahahahahaa sorry pal, I could not resist!!


Pumice.., doesnt that float on water?

Hi Andre

Could easily be...I dont know the stone/stuff....I am too stoned right now

Kind regards Yvonne

---

Yvonne Graubaek wrote:Hi Win

I dont really know this kind of stone....but if it is hard, and has a shape like suiseki, would I guess it will work....Lava is used in other countries, among them Japan.
I hope someone else will give you a reply...and please...send us a photo.

Kind regards Yvonne

Hi Yvonnei

yes, i will send you pics, once i find one, when i get back for a vacation in my hometown. this will be an interesting hunt.

best regrds, win

Andre Beaurain wrote:

I see the Buddha, the Virgin Mary, the Madonna and child,
all possible and more too.

Stoner Are you Stoned?

ha hahahahahahaa sorry pal, I could not resist!!


Pumice.., doesnt that float on water?

hi andre

there are many kinds of pumice rocks, what we have in zambales, does not float. i heard in bicol, southern part of the philipines ( where mayon volcano is located, the pumice rocks float.

thanks win

Chris Cochrane wrote:Hi Winwin.

Answering the question of whether your stone is suiseki relates more to what an enthusiast accepts as suiseki than to the qualities of your stone. For you, the stone is appreciated for its contour representing "Buddha." It is clearly appreciated as a "viewing stone" if mounted for viewing on its own & not as a personal accessory (e.g., jewelry). For you, it is not appreciated as a fossil, mineral or gemstone; it is not appreciated as a garden stone or crafted stone (unless the contour is no longer natural). As a viewing stone presenting the form of the Buddha, your first stone is of interest to members, here.

Limestone is commonly collected as suiseki, shangshi, Chinese scholar rocks and viewing stones. Furuya-ishi & Seigaku-ishi are two limestones commonly collected as suiseki in Japan.

Regarding suiseki, we try to learn together. There is a enthusiast from the Phillipines on IBC who tries harder than others to distinguish suiseki as distinctive. I'd recommend your contacting Alex (IBC name: "Ogie"-- linked HERE) who lives in Manila to identify others open to learning suiseki if you are interested primarily in that form of stone appreciation. Recently, Sonny (IBC name: "Sanch6571") has posted from the Philippines & demonstrated skill in stone mounting. You might also seek books & online articles-- clubs which practice bonsai in your area might have a library with books dedicated to stone appreciation-- including suiseki (Japanese), shangshi (modern Chinese), Chinese scholar rock (traditional Chinese) & "viewing stone" appreciation. There is an important international bonsai (and stone) appreciation event scheduled in your country in November, which should draw many enthusiasts-- see http://abff2012philippines.com.

On IBC, "Peterbrod" (look at past posts) often displays limestone (from the Slovak Republic) as "suiseki" or their closely related cousins "viewing stones." He mounts them expertly in suiseki-style. Some question whether Peter's limestone should be considered suiseki because he dips many in acid to clean them and enhance their surface color. Suiseki should present the stone's natural surface.

Suiseki are typically dark/deep in color, moderately hard, from 3" -12" in length (though exceptions are allowed) and attract moisture to the 'skin' of the stone's surface allowing the natural translucence of the stone to be appreciated. Stones require aging to develop this skin-- "stone aging"/yoseki is a subject you can research on IBC or by internet search.

Hope that helps as an introduction. Good hunting!

Hi chris,

thanks for the informations and tips on suiseki.
i heard about suiseki long time ago but i did not realized that it is a landscape miniature. i thought it was a stone that will have a shape and face of an animals person or thing. i collected many everytime i visit my hometown, it was a good past time.

with your message, my perspective in hunting and viewing the stones has brought me divided thoughts and feelings. thus decided, to adapt both perspective in my hooby. i will continue hunting stones that have shapes and faces of animals, cars, movie personality, home decors and anything beautiful. the second will be to have a mind and eyes as a japanese to hunt for beautiful miniature landscapes stones.

best regards, win

stonener wrote:Now I would call that response from Chris!...
a win win situation, R i g h t! Schuck
I would have said yes, just for the shape alone, if nothing else.
But looks to me like this stone would look much nicer wet,
and water retention is also a good suiseki quality!...
I see the Buddha, the Virgin Mary, the Madonna and child,
all possible and more too. So if this pebble speaks to your heart,
listen to it, it is a "feeling thing" and yes it will "make you feel" happy...
I whistle at my stones, as if they were a beautiful women!,
my wife busy some were in the background!,
always answers! "thank you honey"...

Hi stonener,

i like your comment, it makes me feel , i am doing it right for me to be happy. if your mind and eyes is set for japanese miniature landscaping, you will look at all the stones in the landscaping view. madonna looks will never cross your mind in analyzing the stone. look at me now, after chris message and surfing in the internet about suiseki. i go back and view my collected stones, the old automobile shape, now i see it as a plateau, the zorro face as waterfall, starwars soldier helmet as a mountain, a european old lady dress in the 1800 that i see in my great grandmother pictures, now i see it as a mountain. a baby panda as a waterfall, gun as a hill, granny face with a big nose as a mountain, beautiful big and small white dotted stones , i analyzed the crysanthemum flower shape and many more. i decided to be happy on both, japanese mini landscaping and my kind of viewing.

thank for your comment, win

win!
I visited and hunted with a friend on Maui and Kauai,
there were many volcanic stones which were suiseki...
There is a club which displays local found stones!
I have seen this material used exceptionally...

Andre my buddy see here,
my favorite sandstone from Master Collector Ralph Johnson,
was a very generous gift during annual club Christmas Party.




hand oils affect surface which is sandpaper like...

CHEERS MY FRIENDS
what ever it takes to open your eyes and hearts...