Pottery Maker

Many Navajo potters combine traditional techniques with contemporary styling. Traditional pottery is made by hand where by the artisan shapes the sides by laying up coils of clay and then scrapes and smoothes the exterior to blend away any traces of the coils. The clay is collected by hand from deposits in the mountains or along streams and river and is subsequently soaked and strained to get the fine texture needed. Each pottery is hand carved and etched into pieces. The carving is very precise and time consuming. After the pottery takes form each is hand painted. The paint "slips" are natural pigments from the earth. Rain clouds, whirlwinds, water, mountains, lightning, and anything of mother nature are designs that they Navajos use. Some pieces feature Yei figures, or cornstalks. These elements are important to the Navajo culture. Some times the artist will use turquoise stones onto their pottery. The turquoise to the Navajo is a symbol of wealth and prosperity.