Pottery by OsaNigerian American studio potter (she/her)
Gulf Coast Florida
Tap “Media” for pottery content 👇🏾
Solar powered home & studio 🌞
I get verbose in the #alttext
PFP: selfie. dark skinned Black woman with shoulder length locs wearing sunglasses. Blurred white beach sand and stormy sky background.
Header: A collection of intricately designed pottery pieces, including jars, cups, and a lidded container collaged on top of photo of a multicolored clay deposit.
Pottery by OsaWhenever I have new #pottery ready, I send an email to my subscribers. It’s a way for me to communicate with people who want to buy my work and it’s also a place to express myself in more than 500 characters since I like to write. I describe my process, explain the thoughts behind certain pieces, share my inspirations, etc. If you’d like to sign up, visit my website.
Pottery by OsaA rare snippet of my decorating process. Here I’m filling in the monstera pattern on this planter with terra sigillata (a watery, refined clay slip) made with clay from Ontario. This is much different than painting—it’s basically glaze application. The difference is, I’m applying three layers of terra sig to achieve my desired result. If I apply the sig too thinly, it will come out brown. Three coats (and proper firing) gives me a rich olive green with a bit of variegation. #pottery #ceramics
Pottery by OsaI usually make things for people to use at home, but it seems to me that the only purpose of this bowl is to bob and spin in the Gulf.
#ceramics #pottery #nature #water #beach #Florida #birds #PeacefulMoments
Pottery by OsaLamps!💡
I got a commission for a batch of lamps a couple of years ago but they wanted very plain glaze, so not much room for expression. This is my first time making lamps and decorating them my way. They’re a special order for a collector in Texas. She sent me photos of past pots I’ve made to give me an idea of how she wanted each one to look. I hope she’s satisfied with the end result. #pottery #cermics #FunctionalPottery #beautility
Pottery by OsaThis is the Ancestors’ Work – Jim McDowell
"I didn’t start out trying to reclaim anything. I just knew I had to do it. It kept me sane. And now I understand; I’m reclaiming our history one jug at a time."
https://studiopotter.org/node/2003
#pottery #ceramics #BlackArt #BlackHistory #facejug #art
Pottery by OsaVintage "Ceramics Monthly" magazine (February 1968). "The Traditional Pottery of Nigeria" and other articles.
Free PDF: https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/ceramics-monthly/ceramics-monthly-issue/February-1968
#pottery #Nigeria #ceramics #magazines #vintage #art #Africa
Pottery by OsaHere's one of two large terracotta coil pots I fired over the weekend, featuring the pearly, crackled surface I get when I turn #clay I collected from Ocala National Forest into terra sigillata. I'm making these pieces to be shown at upcoming exhibitions in #Florida, hoping to pique others' curiosity about this unique peninsula of limestone & sand that we live on. That curiosity can lead to greater connection with the Earth, something that many of have lost along the way: https://potterybyosa.com/blogs/clay-people/fractured-fragmented-and-fragile
Pottery by OsaI formed this mug on the wheel and waited for it to dry to the point where it’s no longer tacky, but still soft and flexible. This is the perfect time to apply stamped texture! I make roulette stamps by carving into a coil of clay. I roll the stamp from bottom to top, which softens the form and gives the rim a bit of undulation. This adds a subtle layer of detail and gesture over which I will add my carved geometric patterning. I just wanted to show this phase because I really love it. #pottery
Pottery by OsaExample of a stamp-textured pot from my the book Nigerian Pottery from which I shared images a few months back: https://potterybyosa.com/blogs/clay-people/rare-images-from-nigerian-pottery-a-look-at-historical-forms #pottery #Nigeria
Pottery by OsaI’m working on building a digital portfolio of past and current work on my website. I made this pitcher in 2021 using a glaze that I’ve had to retire because of insurmountable technical difficulties. (I did a whole podcast on it for any ceramic material nerds out there: https://youtu.be/WjfWUbbNY6M) I loved the fluidity of this surface which aligned so well with the function of a pouring pot and the blue waters of the Florida Gulf Coast. I’m curious who ended up with this piece of #pottery.
Pottery by OsaI formed this mug on the wheel and waited for it to dry to the point where it’s no longer tacky, but still soft and flexible. This is the perfect time to apply stamped texture! I make roulette stamps by carving into a coil of clay. I roll the stamp from bottom to top, which softens the form and gives the rim a bit of undulation. This adds a subtle layer of detail and gesture over which I will add my carved geometric patterning. I just wanted to show this phase because I really love it. #pottery
Pottery by OsaHere are examples of what the textured surface looks like underneath carving, glaze and terra sigillata. It’s interesting to me that people are seeing specific imagery in the textured pattern because there is none. The stamping just creates an added layer of visual and textural interest that I enjoy.
Roulette stamped decoration is also frequently used by traditional Nigerian potters. Often the stamps are wood but I’ve even seen a corn cob used to apply texture. 🌽
#pottery
Pottery by OsaI formed this mug on the wheel and waited for it to dry to the point where it’s no longer tacky, but still soft and flexible. This is the perfect time to apply stamped texture! I make roulette stamps by carving into a coil of clay. I roll the stamp from bottom to top, which softens the form and gives the rim a bit of undulation. This adds a subtle layer of detail and gesture over which I will add my carved geometric patterning. I just wanted to show this phase because I really love it. #pottery