The CaveThe development process for a suiseki - "The Cave". http://suisekiart.com/2008/06/05/the-cave/http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-front-2008-05/303291541_umAFj-Ti-1.jpghttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/gallery/5046444_oYrNq/2008-06-04T07:52:52ZCopyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMug1. Eel River stone collected in 2006.
A stone must follow the "rule of three sides" or san men no hō. It must have good balance left-right, up-down, and back-front. Clearly this stone lyi ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />1. Eel River stone collected in 2006.
A stone must follow the "rule of three sides" or san men no hō. It must have good balance left-right, up-down, and back-front. Clearly this stone lyi ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291366_46KWm" title="1. Eel River stone collected in 2006.
A stone must follow the "rule of three sides" or san men no hō. It must have good balance left-right, up-down, and back-front. Clearly this stone lyi ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-flate-2008-05/303291366_46KWm-Th-2.jpg" width="150" height="93" alt="1. Eel River stone collected in 2006.
A stone must follow the "rule of three sides" or san men no hō. It must have good balance left-right, up-down, and back-front. Clearly this stone lyi ..." title="1. Eel River stone collected in 2006.
A stone must follow the "rule of three sides" or san men no hō. It must have good balance left-right, up-down, and back-front. Clearly this stone lyi ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T08:06:59Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-flate-2008-05/303291366_46KWm-Th-2.jpg2008-05-19 08:49:572. Here is a possible view of the stone - turning it upside down and raising the side. However - while the "snow" gives it interest, there is no distinguished peak and the right side is heav ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />2. Here is a possible view of the stone - turning it upside down and raising the side. However - while the "snow" gives it interest, there is no distinguished peak and the right side is heav ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291305_5EeTh" title="2. Here is a possible view of the stone - turning it upside down and raising the side. However - while the "snow" gives it interest, there is no distinguished peak and the right side is heav ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-back-2008-05/303291305_5EeTh-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="89" alt="2. Here is a possible view of the stone - turning it upside down and raising the side. However - while the "snow" gives it interest, there is no distinguished peak and the right side is heav ..." title="2. Here is a possible view of the stone - turning it upside down and raising the side. However - while the "snow" gives it interest, there is no distinguished peak and the right side is heav ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:26:38Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-back-2008-05/303291305_5EeTh-Th-1.jpg2008-05-19 08:52:463. Looking at the side view, it has other problems. It's missing much of the back, and it would require a large piece of wood to make a daiza and fill it up. Also, it has bad "kamae" or seat ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />3. Looking at the side view, it has other problems. It's missing much of the back, and it would require a large piece of wood to make a daiza and fill it up. Also, it has bad "kamae" or seat ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291767_y69YA" title="3. Looking at the side view, it has other problems. It's missing much of the back, and it would require a large piece of wood to make a daiza and fill it up. Also, it has bad "kamae" or seat ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-side-2008-05/303291767_y69YA-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="110" alt="3. Looking at the side view, it has other problems. It's missing much of the back, and it would require a large piece of wood to make a daiza and fill it up. Also, it has bad "kamae" or seat ..." title="3. Looking at the side view, it has other problems. It's missing much of the back, and it would require a large piece of wood to make a daiza and fill it up. Also, it has bad "kamae" or seat ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T08:08:42Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-side-2008-05/303291767_y69YA-Th-1.jpg2008-05-19 08:53:434. What about putting it upright? It can be so nice sometimes to see the sharp cliff. But...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />4. What about putting it upright? It can be so nice sometimes to see the sharp cliff. But...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291948_kBoKB" title="4. What about putting it upright? It can be so nice sometimes to see the sharp cliff. But..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-upright-front-2008/303291948_kBoKB-Th-1.jpg" width="102" height="150" alt="4. What about putting it upright? It can be so nice sometimes to see the sharp cliff. But..." title="4. What about putting it upright? It can be so nice sometimes to see the sharp cliff. But..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:28:42Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-upright-front-2008/303291948_kBoKB-Th-1.jpg2008-02-12 17:08:395. The side view is kind of boring and monotonous.<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />5. The side view is kind of boring and monotonous.</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291844_FYnnW" title="5. The side view is kind of boring and monotonous."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-upright-back-2008/303291844_FYnnW-Th-1.jpg" width="116" height="150" alt="5. The side view is kind of boring and monotonous." title="5. The side view is kind of boring and monotonous." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:29:07Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-upright-back-2008/303291844_FYnnW-Th-1.jpg2008-02-12 17:09:096. It's always possible to cut this stone to make a suiseki. This will give us a beautiful peak with good balance. But this is always a last choice, after all other options have been explore ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />6. It's always possible to cut this stone to make a suiseki. This will give us a beautiful peak with good balance. But this is always a last choice, after all other options have been explore ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291689_vcQqa" title="6. It's always possible to cut this stone to make a suiseki. This will give us a beautiful peak with good balance. But this is always a last choice, after all other options have been explore ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-front-cutline/303291689_vcQqa-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="90" alt="6. It's always possible to cut this stone to make a suiseki. This will give us a beautiful peak with good balance. But this is always a last choice, after all other options have been explore ..." title="6. It's always possible to cut this stone to make a suiseki. This will give us a beautiful peak with good balance. But this is always a last choice, after all other options have been explore ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:32:16Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-front-cutline/303291689_vcQqa-Th-1.jpg2008-05-19 08:51:487. This view has a good peak, and the "snow" is well distributed and beautiful. But it is not an easy stone to handle - in particular the heavy left side will be a challenge. Mas sketches th ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />7. This view has a good peak, and the "snow" is well distributed and beautiful. But it is not an easy stone to handle - in particular the heavy left side will be a challenge. Mas sketches th ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291541_umAFj" title="7. This view has a good peak, and the "snow" is well distributed and beautiful. But it is not an easy stone to handle - in particular the heavy left side will be a challenge. Mas sketches th ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-front-2008-05/303291541_umAFj-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="90" alt="7. This view has a good peak, and the "snow" is well distributed and beautiful. But it is not an easy stone to handle - in particular the heavy left side will be a challenge. Mas sketches th ..." title="7. This view has a good peak, and the "snow" is well distributed and beautiful. But it is not an easy stone to handle - in particular the heavy left side will be a challenge. Mas sketches th ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:37:34Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-stone-front-2008-05/303291541_umAFj-Th-1.jpg2008-05-19 08:51:488. After Mas has finished sketching, he makes a model using polystyrene covered with plaster. With this he can easily modify the design, carving it or building it up until he is satisfied. S ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />8. After Mas has finished sketching, he makes a model using polystyrene covered with plaster. With this he can easily modify the design, carving it or building it up until he is satisfied. S ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291258_XKWED" title="8. After Mas has finished sketching, he makes a model using polystyrene covered with plaster. With this he can easily modify the design, carving it or building it up until he is satisfied. S ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-plaster-front-2008/303291258_XKWED-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="89" alt="8. After Mas has finished sketching, he makes a model using polystyrene covered with plaster. With this he can easily modify the design, carving it or building it up until he is satisfied. S ..." title="8. After Mas has finished sketching, he makes a model using polystyrene covered with plaster. With this he can easily modify the design, carving it or building it up until he is satisfied. S ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:41:04Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-plaster-front-2008/303291258_XKWED-Th-1.jpg2008-04-24 10:20:529. In this back view you can see that the base is still rather bulky - especially the left hand side. This will be refined in the wood base itself. He uses the plaster model to get the rough ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />9. In this back view you can see that the base is still rather bulky - especially the left hand side. This will be refined in the wood base itself. He uses the plaster model to get the rough ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291209_ahnvf" title="9. In this back view you can see that the base is still rather bulky - especially the left hand side. This will be refined in the wood base itself. He uses the plaster model to get the rough ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-plaster-back-2008/303291209_ahnvf-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="96" alt="9. In this back view you can see that the base is still rather bulky - especially the left hand side. This will be refined in the wood base itself. He uses the plaster model to get the rough ..." title="9. In this back view you can see that the base is still rather bulky - especially the left hand side. This will be refined in the wood base itself. He uses the plaster model to get the rough ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T08:10:49Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-study-plaster-back-2008/303291209_ahnvf-Th-1.jpg2008-04-24 10:21:4710. Mas carves the daiza in the chosen piece of wood, copying the design from the model. To do this he has to pay very careful attention to the grain of the wood and how it interacts with th ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />10. Mas carves the daiza in the chosen piece of wood, copying the design from the model. To do this he has to pay very careful attention to the grain of the wood and how it interacts with th ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303292098_GpFsV" title="10. Mas carves the daiza in the chosen piece of wood, copying the design from the model. To do this he has to pay very careful attention to the grain of the wood and how it interacts with th ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-daiza-front-2008/303292098_GpFsV-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="10. Mas carves the daiza in the chosen piece of wood, copying the design from the model. To do this he has to pay very careful attention to the grain of the wood and how it interacts with th ..." title="10. Mas carves the daiza in the chosen piece of wood, copying the design from the model. To do this he has to pay very careful attention to the grain of the wood and how it interacts with th ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:43:26Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-daiza-front-2008/303292098_GpFsV-Th-1.jpg2008-05-26 15:22:1811. On the back of the daiza, Mas has also reduced and refined the bulky areas - notice the two large curves on the left and right. This created two narrow windows that permit light through ...<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />11. On the back of the daiza, Mas has also reduced and refined the bulky areas - notice the two large curves on the left and right. This created two narrow windows that permit light through ...</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303292046_3MqkY" title="11. On the back of the daiza, Mas has also reduced and refined the bulky areas - notice the two large curves on the left and right. This created two narrow windows that permit light through ..."><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-daiza-back-2008/303292046_3MqkY-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="11. On the back of the daiza, Mas has also reduced and refined the bulky areas - notice the two large curves on the left and right. This created two narrow windows that permit light through ..." title="11. On the back of the daiza, Mas has also reduced and refined the bulky areas - notice the two large curves on the left and right. This created two narrow windows that permit light through ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T13:45:28Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-daiza-back-2008/303292046_3MqkY-Th-1.jpg2008-05-26 15:23:0612. "The Cave" - 2008; W 18" x D 10 " x H 8 1/2"; Eel River stone and ash wood with stain<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />12. "The Cave" - 2008; W 18" x D 10 " x H 8 1/2"; Eel River stone and ash wood with stain</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#307329853_mSfcj" title="12. "The Cave" - 2008; W 18" x D 10 " x H 8 1/2"; Eel River stone and ash wood with stain"><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-front-2008-05-26/307329853_mSfcj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="105" alt="12. "The Cave" - 2008; W 18" x D 10 " x H 8 1/2"; Eel River stone and ash wood with stain" title="12. "The Cave" - 2008; W 18" x D 10 " x H 8 1/2"; Eel River stone and ash wood with stain" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T08:34:59Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-front-2008-05-26/307329853_mSfcj-Th.jpg13. "Cave"; Back view<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />13. "Cave"; Back view</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303291989_Ntrs5" title="13. "Cave"; Back view"><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-back-2008-05-26/303291989_Ntrs5-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="13. "Cave"; Back view" title="13. "Cave"; Back view" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T07:53:27Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-back-2008-05-26/303291989_Ntrs5-Th-1.jpg2008-05-26 15:19:5314. Cave; right front view<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />14. Cave; right front view</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303292259_3pWA6" title="14. Cave; right front view"><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-front-right-2008/303292259_3pWA6-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="14. Cave; right front view" title="14. Cave; right front view" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T07:53:27Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-front-right-2008/303292259_3pWA6-Th-1.jpg2008-05-26 15:14:1315. Cave; left front view<p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com">jtroth</a><br />15. Cave; left front view</p><p><a href="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/5046444_oYrNq#303292188_tuBrY" title="15. Cave; left front view"><img src="http://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-front-left-2008/303292188_tuBrY-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="15. Cave; left front view" title="15. Cave; left front view" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-04T07:53:27Zjtrothhttp://jtroth.smugmug.comhttp://jtroth.smugmug.com/Art/Suiseki-Study/The-Cave/Cave-suiseki-front-left-2008/303292188_tuBrY-Th-1.jpg2008-05-26 15:14:49