Posts by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #AxNqW7nh8S1OGlFqXw by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-08-20T18:34:30Z
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Earthen Rainbow š These are the results from my last terra sig test runāclays collected from hotel parking lots, construction sites, river banks and more. The common soil under our feet contains infinite possibilities that we will probably never exhaust and that most of us will never even begin to explore. We havenāt given the Earth proper attention, appreciation or care yet people want to explore and colonize Mars. #clay #WildClay #nature #pottery #Earth
(DIR) Post #AxVkkDHAWti6qR3SrY by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-08-23T17:14:13Z
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After Iāve tested my new #WildClay samples on tiles, the next step is to try them on small items to see how they behave. Itās common to get a satisfactory result on a test tile but then have problems when applying that same material to an actual pot. For instance, the dark brown clay (inside the leaf shapes) came out perfectly smooth on the tile but flakes slightly when applied to textured areas of the pot. Once Iām satisfied with the results on a cup, I can move to application on larger pieces.
(DIR) Post #Axg8C9jxVdzuVvPi3k by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-08-29T20:48:15Z
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I made this piece for an upcoming exhibition at Utilitarian Clay, a #ceramics conference at Arrowmont School of Craft in Tennessee. Iāve made pitcher & basin sets before, but this is my first one with the #WildClay surface. I began to see them as interpretations of Venus standing in a clam shell on the water, representing love, femininity, sex, desire, beauty. I picture this set in someoneās home resting together but put to use separatelyāas a vase and a serving bowl. #pottery #cerĆ”mica
(DIR) Post #Ay7BzDYBg51lePua1Y by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-09-12T01:46:04Z
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@historyofpunkrock Excellent album. I put āI Must Not Think Bad Thoughtsā on every mixtape for a while.
(DIR) Post #Az4sKEwEK48m5Cyr7w by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-10-10T20:20:59Z
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Still warm from the kiln, covered in warm earth tonesāIām so relieved this piece came out successfully on the other side of firing. I worked on it over the course of a month and remembered to document moments of process which I think Iāll share in a thread. The most important thing to know is that I consider this pot a collaboration. I coordinated the colors, but I didnāt choose them. Each clay tone was a surprise and a gift, and thatās where my excitement about this piece lies. #pottery
(DIR) Post #Az4sKLdLQgC2qfCNA8 by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-10-10T20:29:07Z
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This is what it looked like before it was fired. At this point, Iād let it dry completely (we call that bone dry) and then I painted it with dirt water (we call that terra sig.) I love this soft, pastel stage and I also love the color shifting alchemy that happens in a hot kiln. The yellow to dark purple is especially wild. After this I bisque fire, then apply glaze, then fire again. I work in batches so I was making other pots while I made this. #pottery #clay #ceramics #WIP #artprocess
(DIR) Post #AzHgSWJMwMGZt2SrbM by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-10-16T23:47:17Z
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This vase was a custom order for a coupleās 9th wedding anniversary. They wanted something they could pass down to future generations and thought a ceramic piece would make a good commemorative heirloom. They mentioned their love for terracotta amaryllis, a variety Iād never heard of. Terracotta literally means ābaked earthā so I was excited to render the flower in clay tones using a mixture of pink Alabama #clay and a clay called Newman Red from California. #pottery
(DIR) Post #AzR9X1yfnI7ALivVwW by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-10-21T14:42:25Z
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Yesterday we took our family to our favorite #nature park in #Louisiana. It was my 3 month old nephewās very first hike and the first place I ever found #WildClay years ago when we lived in Baton Rouge.
(DIR) Post #AzR9qAhLayYAtiwwEa by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-10-21T14:47:21Z
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@raccoon it is alive š Also not my term. Itās what clay ppl call it to differentiate it from commercial clay that comes in a bag.
(DIR) Post #AzVFi8no8XLf3hMh84 by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-10-23T14:12:13Z
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@aral @joynewacc The fundraiser is going well and I'm happy to be part of the effort. It's one small beam of hope in this entire situation. I was wondering how Joy will be able to leave Gaza since movement is so restricted for Palestinians. Thanks.
(DIR) Post #AzVLGCpUAbn9AIDFMu by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-10-23T15:14:29Z
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@aral @joynewacc Wonderful, thank you for this information. And good luck to you, Joy. šš¾
(DIR) Post #B0BshBQjOMaWeQ9anw by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-11-13T00:04:52Z
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Last year, I sent some #clay that I collected to the University of West Georgia Archaeology Dept and they just sent me the results of their experiment. They tested how the addition of sponge spicules (or fired sea sponge) affects the strength of the fired clay. This method of tempering clay isn't common but evidence of its use can be found in pottery shards throughout the world, including here in SW #Florida. Anyway, how cool to be able to assist in scientific #research.
(DIR) Post #B0BshGXeO45sVKQgme by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-11-13T00:14:58Z
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Here is the original #clay. We found it in a construction site in Venice, just south of us. They were digging a retention pond beside a new road. The construction is now complete and the pond is filled with water, but for a moment the site was kind of like a playground for fossil hunters and clay diggers. I've had a pretty difficult time working with this clay and incorporating it into my work, so I'm glad it could successfully serve another purpose. #wildclay #Florida
(DIR) Post #B0On6UTnmsSSXijIxs by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-11-19T02:20:10Z
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@rwn120 I'm sorry for your situation, but I can't help right now. You'll do better fundraising if you are approved by @aral as a vetted account from Gaza. Good luck to you.
(DIR) Post #B1XmTy0jg2WMIEjYum by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-12-20T14:50:38Z
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"These vessels represent the first moment in history when people chose to portray the botanical world as a subject worthy of artistic attention," the authors note. "It reflects a cognitive shift tied to village life and a growing awareness of symmetry and aesthetics." āThis research contributes to the growing field of #ethnomathematics, which explores how mathematical ideas are expressed through cultural practices and artistic traditions.āhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251216081937.htm#pottery #archaeology #art
(DIR) Post #B1XmU3eyfqgJoUbGpk by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2025-12-20T15:35:20Z
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I tracked down the original article that has more shard illustrations so you can better visualize what is being described: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10963-025-09200-9
(DIR) Post #B1tToYll60nGRBx8G8 by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2026-01-01T22:05:24Z
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Happy New Year! Today is also Imani (Faith), the last day of #Kwanzaa which we have been celebrating as a community since the day after Christmas. We gathered and ate food from the African diaspora: jollof rice, jerk chicken, etc. I also made the unity cup for the Kwanzaa table this year decorated with black, red and green foraged clays. Itās easy to identify what weāre against but celebrating the principles of Kwanzaa reminds us what we need more of in 2026 and beyond. #BlackFedi
(DIR) Post #B1z8wRdSZSsuXXkVjU by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2026-01-05T15:46:36Z
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It's my first Fediversary! Still happy to be here, no regrets leaving IG--in fact, it's been a relief.https://mastodon.social/@potterybyosa/113867178054241404
(DIR) Post #B1z8wWxUmOsl38A59k by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2026-01-05T18:58:29Z
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One thing thoughāthe media grid function is super glitchy. I wish this could be fixed. Unfortunately, Pixelfed wasnāt a good user experience for me so for artists who prefer Mastodon, improving the media grid would be super helpful. @Mastodon
(DIR) Post #B23UxxcGo2Ueh2Tau8 by potterybyosa@mastodon.social
2026-01-07T19:19:00Z
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A rare snippet of my decorating process. Here Iām 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 paintingāitās basically glaze application. The difference is, Iām 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