MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Kayenta has been practicing and teaching earth based pottery since 2009. She finds her inspiration in the landscapes of the southwest desert (US) as well as from various ancient cultures and ceramic technologies found around the world. She has practiced and perfected her own hand-building techniques, as well as honed multiple firing methods... her specialty being controlled oxidation with organic paint.
Her focus and passion began in the canyons of Southern Utah, being inspired by the ancestral Puebloan pottery and replicating the ancient pottery made by them. Over time her focus has evolved and expanded and embodies the concept that pottery made in the old way not only is a unique signature of the landscape, but has profound lessons to teach us that are much needed today to heal our world and our disconnection from nature, Spirit and each other.
She has worked in collaboration with archeologists and organizations to bridge the gap between what is unknown or assumed about ancient pottery and what we can learn from “experimental archeology” that is; following in the footsteps of the ancients.
Kayenta shares her techniques at museums, primitive skills gatherings, universities, and at private workshops throughout the western states, as well as from her home in Boulder, Utah. She has an extensive collection of pottery materials, all wild harvested clays, ochers, earth pigments and other minerals and has mastered the art of finding, refining and utilizing these materials for various applications in the pottery process.
Learn to make pottery like your ancient ancestors.
Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions, dating back to before the Neolithic period. Its varied forms are found in nearly every culture around the world, making it one of the most accessible art forms in the world. That said, most of the ancient techniques for making pots in the wild have been lost to modernity. This course aims at to keep those ancient technologies alive and accessible for generations to come.
The raw materials needed to make beautiful pieces of pottery, that will stand the test of time, are just outside your front door. This course will teach you how to find and use the resources nature provides to create beautiful pieces of art while preserving an important ancient practice that transcends culture and time.
LEARN THE COMPLETE PROCESS
FROM BEGINNING TO END
Clay is everywhere around the world, and this course will help empower you with the skills and knowhow to start resourcing and building pottery almost anywhere, and anytime.:
- Over 10 hours of instructional videos.
- Access to an online forum for ongoing support and questions to be answered as you learn and grow.
- 3 Live Zoom Question and Answer sessions with Kayenta
- Learn all of the essential skills, tricks of the trade and helpful tips to successfully find, build, paint, and fire your pottery in the field.
FINDING WILD CLAY
In this video Kayenta shares her knowledge of how to look for (and find) clay in the landscape, she talks about characteristics of various kinds of clay including clues to look for... and she demonstrates how to identify and field test the clay.
PROCESSING DRY CLAY
After harvesting wild clay it must be processed. The fastest way to accomplish this in the field is to work with clay that is dry. This process will be fully demonstrated in this module.
PROCESSING WET CLAY
Here we will learn a more refined way to process clay using the water settling method. This process takes a bit more time but produces a finer quality clay that is free from undesirable raw materials, such as silt, sand, and unwanted organic materials.
HANDBUILDING TECHNIQUES
Techniques such as scraping, smoothing and burnishing will be discussed in detail to bring your pots to a beautifully refined surface and finish.
THREE WAYS TO MAKE A BOWL
In this section of the course, Kayenta demonstrates three distinct building methods for building a bowl that can be applied to a diverse range of pots.
TWO STYLES OF MUG
Learn the different techniques required to make both round bottom and a flat bottom mugs.
MAKING A WATER PITCHER
Among the many different types of pots you will learn to make in this course, you will learn the art of making functional and beautiful water pitchers.
MAKING A PLAIN WARE COOKING POT
There are also several skill that expedite the process of making a pot (like the use of a puki). These skills, and more, will all be explained in detail through over 10 hours of curated video footage.
CORRUGATED METHOD
The techniques employed to create corrugated pottery are quite different from other methods. In this section of the course we will cover the entire process from beginning to end.
HOW TO MAKE A YUCCA PAINT BRUSH
Learn to harvest and make your own incredibly effective paint brushes in the field.
ALL ABOUT PAINTS
Learn how to effectively lay out patterns, do efficient line work, and fill in color with both organic and mineral paints.
FIRING PROCESS
The process of firing pots in the wild is incredibly complex. It requires specific knowledge and technique to make it successful. This course will save you hundred of hours of failed experimentation, and teach you the sacred and powerful art of bringing your pots to life without the need for modern kilns or electricity.
RESULTS YOU WILL CHERISH FOR A LIFETIME
I love the fact that you can go into the wild with nothing and get all you need to survive and even flourish from the earth. The idea that you can go out and dig up some ‘dirt’, shape it, paint it and fire it all using only materials found in nature is amazing to me. These items then stand the test of time, likely outliving us. They become living embodiments of history and examples of creation that can inspire for generations.
More Than Just Pottery
“I imagine one day far in the future someone will pick up one of my pots and wonder about my life. Maybe they'll be inspired to create something that lasts longer than they will. Maybe they will get a glimpse of my personality in the texture or overall quality of the pot. I love the idea that through pottery we are connected; past, present, and future."
"For anything to be created there needs to be a balance of elements...
When we slow down, become intentional, and reflect on the delicate balance of each element contributing to the creation process we begin to understand that clay and the journey of a pot becoming, is a reflection of the human experience. The methods and forms change to reflect how we adapt to available materials and needs, but the journey of the clay is the same; The clay is taken from its source, purified and refined, then shaped and fired, all for a purpose; beauty, strength and functionality (service). The fire takes an object that is weak, temporary and has no use and transforms it into something strong, lasting, and useful. I'm grateful for this path and to be able to share what I am shown.”
