New blog post: I started sharing images & info from out-of-print book #NigerianPottery which contains photos of pots I haven't seen anywhere online, particularly with this level of regional detail. I’m hoping access to such visual archives might inform contemporary practice – both for those reconnecting with heritage and anyone invested in global ceramic histories. Will be adding to this gradually as I work through the material.

Pottery by Osa

Rare Images from ‘Nigerian Pottery’

I received the book Nigerian Pottery as a gift from Warren Fredrick and Catherine White, Virginia potters whose home studio I visited in 2016. We�...

#pottery #Nigeria #AfricanArt #ceramics

I’m going to try smoothing out the edge of this shell and using it as a pottery tool. I’ll let you know how it goes.

It takes me at least a couple of hours to decorate a pot this size. I brush three layers of terra sigillata into each section, alternating the different types of clay in a rhythmic symmetry. Then I’ll bisque fire the pot, apply glaze and fire one last time. I haven’t made as much progress this week as I would have liked so I may end up working a bit this weekend, which is something I try to avoid. Have a good weekend, everyone. #pottery #clay #ceramics #WIP #timelapse #keramik #wildclay

I tried making #ceramic scoops for the first time, following instructions from an article that I will link in the comments just in case anyone else wants to try it. I get why #potters would congregate on apps where video content is prioritized bc it’s a great opportunity to share your process as a maker. But as a largely self-taught potter who uses the Internet as a resource, social media has never been as helpful to me for learning new techniques as articles and longer-length videos.

The happiest people in the fediverse are the ones who are watching their seeds sprout. Following #gardening has been a blessing to my timeline. #springtime #joy #hope

I live in a coastal town and draw tons of inspiration from water. We went for a swim today and I could feel the relieving effect the crisp water had on my body. Like everyone, I worry about plastic. There’s always some type of litter at the beach. In a few months, it will be hurricane season during which time we have to confront the raw power of nature and the consequences of living out of balance. I’m here for it all, good & bad, peaceful & terrifying. I’ve never felt so connected to a place.

Photo taken from bed. I’m feeling very tired today and fighting the urge to get up and go because there really isn’t anything that needs my immediate attention. There’s real urgency and then there’s that false sense of urgency that you can learn to recognize and resist. And then you can use that newfound space to rest.

I'm prepping for tomorrow's workshop with UnidosNow, a local Hispanic/Latinx org that has been shaken by the recent wave of deportations and has decided that working with #clay would be a grounding, healing activity to help cope with that reality. Before the hands-on clay part, I'll share photos of the #Taino potter I met in #PuertoRico when we visited in 2023. #AliceCheverez of Morovis carries on the ancient art of her people, passed on to her by her mother. #alttext #Indigenous #ceramics

If you’re in #Florida, call and make sure your state senator is voting against the loosening of #ChildLabor laws in our state. It only passed the committee vote 5 to 4 which means even many Republicans do not agree with this legislation. We have a chance to stop this madness.

Senators

Ollas drying in the sun. The funny pointy ones are upside down. Those are for houseplants—a new design. Most of my houseplants are low maintenance (different types of pothos & succulents) but I have a couple that start to give up the ghost whenever they’re just the slightest bit thirsty. Those dramatic plants that droop and wilt when they’ve only been dry for like one day? That’s who the houseplant ollas are for. #OllasByOsa #gardening #SustainableGardening #plants #pottery #ceramics