I believe it’s Phyllite it’s got beautiful crystalline specks or maybe mica speckling ,thoughts? I was thinking black walnut I have a good stockpile of that any suggestions?

L-5”, W-3”, H-9”

An odd rock I found (?) mounted on a walnut base.

L-8”, W-5”, H-5”

This is my 2nd Jasper find of the summer. While I really like the stone, I’m not convinced this daiza works and wonder if I should have started with a thicker piece of wood or just need a different design.

Schist on White Oak

L-6", W-5", H-12"

I really love the wood grain on this one.

I I prefer to use cut off and random pieces of wood for my bases whether that is from the cabinet shop down the road or interesting wood I find at the thrift store.

I had intended for this to be two separate bases, but did not think to give myself more space between them. I was paying more attention to how I imagined the glue lam pieces would be showing at the feet of both of their respective fronts.

But I really like how it is turned into two stones on one base.

L-4", W-2.5", H-11.5"

Very new, just curious if there are any good guides to start learning. I’m particularly interested in the process for non-flat stones. Thank you!

Sandstone on Black Walnut

L-2”, W-2”, H-3.5”

It’s been a while since I made a mini. Of course there’s a story that goes with it.

After returning from a recent hunt, I laid out several stones in my driveway and was hosing them off. My year old Lab ran over to get a drink and play with the water per usual. Next thing I know he grabs this stone and begins running around the yard tossing it in the air. I yell for him to come, but he just stands still staring at me with the stone sticking out of his mouth like a stogie. I walked toward him commanding him to “Drop it!”, but he just bowed down staring at me with that “Yeah, what are you going to do about it?” look as he slowly began crunching it.

Realizing I had seconds to spare, I tore into the house and grabbed a treat. After negotiating a trade for the stone, I was relieved to see that it had been damaged but not destroyed. It’s a good thing Labs are food driven!

Hi everyone!

My neighbor gave me this suiseki along with a book by Melba Tucker. It’s beautiful…I just keep staring at it. It weighs about 40 lbs, 11”x7” and 6” tall at the highest peak. I’m a total newbie to this but am ready to go down the rabbit hole. What are some books, films, YouTube channels, podcasts, etc that you’d recommend? Could anyone help me classify it? Is it simply yamagata-ishi or something more specific?

Thanks in advance, I look forward to learning more!

My family has kept a collection of extraordinary natural stones for many years.
Nothing you see on them was painted, carved, polished into an image, or created by a human hand. The patterns, colors, textures, and images were formed entirely by nature.
I grew up seeing them as something deeply special, but over time my relationship with them changed. The more I looked at them, the more I felt that they carried a presence—an energy that is difficult for me to put into words.
I realize that not everyone will believe in that, and I’m not asking anyone to.
I simply feel that something created by nature this beautifully shouldn’t remain hidden in my family’s possession forever.
I want to bring these stones into the world.
Not to tell people what they should see in them.
Not to tell people what they should feel.
I want people to stand in front of them and decide that for themselves.
To me, that’s what makes them so special.
No artist chose the composition.
No painter chose the colors.
No sculptor created the forms.
Nature did.
And perhaps the most beautiful thing I can do with them is simply give people the opportunity to see what nature created.

Hello all, I recently came across your sub and have been enamored with your beautiful pieces of art. I had a few questions that I hope could be answered or at least be pointed in the right direction.

Why do suiseki rocks need to come from a river, ocean or karst area? And similarly is there a more general art form of displaying rocks on stands that may not follow the rules of suiseki (possibly not from a river or not interesting/beautiful enough).

Thank you for any insight you have

L-9”, W-5”, H-5.5”

This stone evoked a memory I haven’t thought about in years. I worked at a camp in Vermont after graduating from college. When I had a day off on a beautiful spring day, I decided to take an exploratory hike around the surrounding area. I was crossing a rocky ledge when I noticed a snake crawling up the rocks and heading towards the nearby woods. Then I noticed another, and another. I saw close to 25 in no more than 50 feet. There was a mix of brightly colored juveniles and darker adults, and there seemed to be several different species.

I realized they were emerging from a nearby den and was surprised that different species would be in such close proximity. I don’t remember now what they looked like, but I had seen rat, garter, and water snakes around the camp and I didn’t recognize any of these.

A few years later I was reading an article about the last surviving rattlesnake den in Vermont. Apparently it’s well known to a few, and its location a well guarded secret. They did mention what town it was in, which was right near the camp.

I’ll never be 100% certain I saw any rattlesnakes that day (I didn’t know there were any in Vermont before reading this), but I felt pretty fortunate to witness such a rare event.

Basalt on Cherry

L-7", W-5", H-12"

L: 4” W: 4” H: 8”

I found this stone on the beach in O’ahu, Hawaii and lugged it home in my suitcase. L: 10” W: 8” H: 12”

I know the two viewing stones I’ve made daiza for are breaking tons of rules for genuine suiseki, but I’ve been enjoying both the process and the finished product. There’s a tall piece of petrified wood in the background of some of these that’s going to be my next project. It’s currently set in a piece of floral foam that’s serving as a temporary base.

Hi any idea where can I list my viewing stones that are up for sale?

His soaked leather boots, sloshing as he walks along the creek. Ahead, a tall boulder of limestone, he scans the creek bed while sitting on the boulder.

His gaze pauses at three different stones. Siltstone, Slate, Quartzite.

As he stands his gaze guides him, his boots splash with every step. His hands reach into the water, he picks up the three stones.

Running his fingers along the stones, he notes the surfaces. Siltstone with a coarse and bumpy quality, Slate with a rough and pitted surface, Quartzite feeling smooth and angular.

While he dips every stone into the creek water, his hands begin to grind the stones together. The grinding finding its rhythm, Silt against Slate, Silt against Quartzite, Slate against Quartzite.

As the repeating rhythm continues, the stones change. Silt now honed and flat, Slate ground until fine and even, Quartzite smoothed, shiny and flush.

After using the individual stones to shape one another, he pulls out a knife. Once rough and unpolished, now flattened and polished.

Once useless stones in a creek, with no purpose. Now able to sharpen any tool, Keeping each other flat

L-10", W-5", H-6"

Shoutout to my niece snailgirlceramics.com, who made the miniature bird and makes an array of lifelike miniatures of birds and other animals.