first attempt - tall root stand

sharing a OJT project. how to (or how not to) create a tall root stand. if anyone out there has done one of these, I could use some advice. at this point, I'm guessing I'm about 25% into this.

best wishes, sam

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Hi Kauaibonsai

The first thing I would do, was to make shure the stand has a horizontal buttom, and a horizontal top, to be able to place a pot in a firm ballance.

Kind regards Yvonne

thank you yvonne

leveling the bottom and top are definitely planned. open legs will be carved at the bottom. a compatible slab will be fitted at the top to blend with the trunk. an experiment every step of the way.

best wishes, sam

Hi again

Normaly is it nicest, if the root also is the whole stand. As it is close to impossible to find a piese of wood with the same collour...also will a fitted slab, even with the allmost right collour, desturb the quietness, and make the exhibit less classy. Sorry IMHO

Kind regards Yvonne

thanks yvonne. my goal is to make the trunk look more "rootlike" I am going slowly as I have no prior experience to guide my decisions. what parts of the trunk should be kept and what should be carved away to get the best rootlike appearance is difficult for me to visualize in three dimensions. as to the top, because the stump is hollow all the way through, I have to come up with an idea that will provide a platform for a pot while not looking totally contrived. do you know of anyone outside of japan who might be making stands of this kind? I would love to learn from such a person. meanwhile, I am trying to figure the process out.


best wishes, sam

Wow. I think you're off to an amazing start Sam. Can't wait to see the finished product!

R

Hi Again

What you have done already looks good, and I am sure the carving will turn out nice...You have a tallent for this.
My only " complain" is , that you should have found the horizontal buttom and top before starting the carving, as this is very important.
Finding theese two spots, also give you the uppertunity to work more special shapes into the design, and still keep the ballance, and understanding of ballance.

I can only recommend you study a lot of photos.

Kind regrads Yvonne....Looking forward to see a lot from you

I understand what you are saying, yvonne. it makes good sense to me. for the next one, I will level the wood first. then start from there. I study pictures of root stands, even as I work. however, the image I see does not transfer so successfully from the picture, to my brain, to my hands, to the carving tool, then to the wood. this will improve with experience -I hope. unless I am lucky enough to find a teacher who successfully makes similar stands who might be willing to teach me the proper way, I am learning by trial and error.

thanks, sam

thanks russell.

have 3 more hollow stump blanks to practice on. was lucky to locate a beautiful piece of monkey pod. the yield- 4 large ji ita blanks waiting for attention.

best wishes, sam

Looks great.

thanks crafty:

pictures of three hollow casuarina stumps destined for tall root stands 2, 3, & 4

best wishes, sam



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more progress on the tall root stand. the heavy cutting is done. the holes and "roots are being shaped, smoothed, preparatory to sanding. the top and bottom have been trimmed. some sanding at the bottom will make it sit straight. ignore the top in the photos. this is a black walnut ji ita I happen to be working on that will not be used with this stand. I have a casuarina slab from the mother tree for the top.

best wishes, sam






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Hi Sam,
This root stand is looking good.
I know that you don't intend using the walnut but try turning the walnut ji ita upside down, I think the top will look better flaring in than out.

Regards

John

thanks john:

your common sense amazes me - or maybe its the lack of it in myself.

having fun with these tall things. just found 3 more hollow logs. surprising what one finds if one is looking

best wishes, sam