Making a BIG Tularosa Pot Without Breaking It (Hopefully)

In which I make a BIG Tularosa Black on White pot as the third pot in the Ancient Pottery Challenge.
Learn how I dry process wild clay: • The Best Way to Proces...
My original Tularosa video where the pot broke • How to Make a Large Po...
My last successful reduction firing • Reduction Pottery Firi...
Other KZbin channels who have dealt with reduced iron paint
Will O's Southwest Studio: ‪@willorocks‬ • Cracking the Code: Ch...
Airstream Wanderings: • Mimbres Style Reduced ...
Mark Gibson's Southwest Pottery: • Trench Kiln (Cibola Wh...
The original pot I am replicating here - fineart.ha.com...
🏺 Wednesday Zoom pottery class - ancientpottery...
❤️ Channel membership - / ancientpottery
OR Patreon - / ancientpottery
🛍 Shop my website: ancientpottery...
📚 Workshops and masterclasses - ancientpottery...
⭐️ Social media
Facebook - / andywardpottery
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📬 Send me mail
Andy Ward PO Box 43601 Tucson, AZ 85733
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[@nathanbrendle4409]

My 3 year old loves to watch you paint your pots, she always asks if “this is a video where Andy paints” keep it up! Paint more!

[@AncientPottery]

That's cool, I always have to speed up the painting or else it would be super boring.

[@willorocks]

Congrats Andy!!! It turned out just beautiful!!! Been eagerly awaiting this video and was worth the wait! Thanks so much for the shout out too! Looked like everything went very smooth for you in this firing. That small bit of carbon you got is a great testament of how that pot was fired!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Will. Let's see if I can bump up your subscriber count today, currently at 1.21K

[@chloeuntrau4588]

Exactly!

[@ChadZuberAdventures]

That pot turned out absolutely gorgeous! Nearly perfect! Everything was so well presented in this video. Thanks for your hard work Andy.

[@Twitchi]

Actually gave a little out loud "Yeahhhh" when I saw that white and black and, most of all, solid pot come out of the pit!!! So good

[@angeladazlich7145]

This heals my grief over the earlier Tularosa pot :) I think I'll adopt the nest idea, my big pot slumped. Great video.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Angela, I know a lot of people have expressed concern about that broken pot. Hopefully this makes it better.

[@vixwolf2037]

The nest odea also helps with coffee mug handles especially

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Terrific job and what a relief! The large sherds look like an important component. Thanks for the mention.

[@AncientPottery]

That's true, the larger the pot, the larger the needed cover sherds to get the job done

[@capuchinosofia4771]

Oh I absolutely overshoot! I guessed around 30! Well, anyone can tell I dont do pottery hahaha The pot turned out fantastic! Its super cool that the pigment turned black, too! Thank you for the video Andy!

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@user-kh7ik6ur7i]

Great work,Andy, remarkable Greetings from Serbia

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@AncientAmericas]

One of your best pots ever! It looks incredible!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks so much 😊

[@cliffordkelly5327]

Howdy Andy , Great Video ! This is truly one of the best , “how to videos”, that will go down in history ! I watched this video twice, so far ! All of the care in building, shaping, smoothing , slipping, painting, drying & firing ! I am so happy to see you master the art of smothering & achieving reduced iron paint! I’m also happy to know that your 1st Tularosa Olla found a great home ! My guess was 12 coils , bcuz of the size you were going for ! Being sick is no joy, when one is doing what he loves best ! Great job & happy to see THIS video come out , please take care & keep them coming !!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Cliff! You were so close with 12 coils.

[@vicki1141]

Andy you have incredible talent and knowledge. Such a huge pot!!! It's exciting to see how much skill it takes to form a pot this shape and size. Wish I were closer so I could learn from you in person. Nova Scotia is a long way from Tucson. Congratulations o this milestone.

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

That is perfect,... If they come out any cleaner than that, In my opinion it would look less authentic,. We enjoyed this video a lot and absolutely love how that pot came out! Thanks for the mention and thanks for the lessons!

[@AncientPottery]

That's a good point. I hope you get some views from this. I am looking forward to your next video.

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

Congratulations! That is loveliness embodied.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@valsalas666]

andy i loved how long this video was! the attention to each step in the process, with such beautiful shots taken too. i liked to hear the sounds of the scraping and shaping of the pottery. beautiful video and i would love to see more in this style!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, I will do more. Of course the length of the video is influenced by the size of the pot so the next may be a bit shorter.

[@marleneruddell9395]

Excellent result, and what a beautiful pot. Great video, loved seeing it start to finish, what a treat.

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching

[@llanitedave]

That cleaned up really well. I think it may be your best one yet! And I guessed less than 10 coils, but you outsmarted me by making those upper coils smaller!

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, thanks Dave. Those coils had to get smaller as the clay started wanting to sag, that is probably why my guess was short too.

[@largestpoppa]

Ive become a recent fan but love your channel. Funny educational and very interesting. Much love from Australia

[@AncientPottery]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@ocean.almajeda]

Brilliant! I guessed 12 coils initially. But you hyped it so much I thought I was too conservative so I changed my guess to 24 😆 That first pot breaking would have brought me to my knees!

[@AncientPottery]

LOL, I over-hyped it. Occasional breakage is just a part of making pottery however distressing it is.

[@christophermauchline2586]

Very beautiful pot! I had guessed 12 coils, so I guess I was close.

[@AncientPottery]

Very close

[@MirrimBlackfox]

I was close! I guessed 12! I build with much smaller coils, so if it where me it would be 20 to 30, but I knew you favored bigger ones so I guessed what I thought was a ridiculously low number and I still wasn't low enough!

[@AncientPottery]

That's funny, I think most people over-guessed.

[@mihailvormittag6211]

👍 This is good video production: building up a pot combined whit the history of it's macking art. I like it! 👍

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you very much!

[@mihailvormittag6211]

@@AncientPottery 👍

[@aligatortatotatotaovic1890]

I was going to a nearby lake and I tripped on a molehill, it turned out that I found the perfect yellow clay, I don't even need to add fine sand because it is perfect and I will soon start making figures and other things from it, incredible. 😊

[@FruitKck]

75, way off. Never done anything like this but getting very excited watching your videos. Found your channel after making a very thick, crude mug with my fist. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and process.

[@johnatdewclaw]

Love what you are doing! Have you considered not covering your pots at the end of firing? I do a lot of barrel firing. We found that the white/light parts came out brighter when we stopped covering the barrel at the end of firings.

[@randy-eb5kr]

Awesome video 👍

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you 👍

[@margiegandy9189]

Beautiful piece of artwork! Wonderfully documented!

[@AncientPottery]

Many thanks!

[@bcarithers22]

Congratulations! I know you have struggled to get that reduction black! So glad for you!

[@dolphin9719]

Wonderful to watch you make this pot, Andy, bravo👏 thanks for sharing!

[@SuperMrsMika]

Marvelous work. Loved watching it from the Netherlands. Love to try it some day too.

[@AncientPottery]

Go for it!

[@RosesAreForever1871]

I just finished watching your previous attempt and I’m so happy to see you trying again! I guessed 10 coils!

[@cindydawson3815]

❤ Looks great 👍! Congratulations 👏. Thanks for sharing

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

Congratulations, Andy. That's a beautiful pot and a really well executed production. Inspiring!

[@GhostyOcean]

I made myself a small pot this week, maybe 6-8" tall. This is my first real attempt at decorating with slip. I bought some colored clays of amazon (they're meant to be used as face masks!) and did some test firings to see what color they'll come out to. What really surprised me is how smooth the slip layer is, I haven't even stone polished it yet and it feels so nice.

[@AncientPottery]

That sounds cool. Do those clays keep their colors through the fire?

[@masonwelty8058]

The last time I tried firing pottery, all 10+ pieces I had made were destroyed by my prop rocks exploding. Two lessons learned: don't put all your eggs in one basket until you trust your technique, and don't use props that will explode. Andy, what types of rocks are generally safe? I used andesite, an igneous rock very common in the Madison Range of Montana. Edit: I forgot to say, amazing work!

[@KySilvi]

Really great work on the pot and lovely video! I guessed 10 coils - so close :) I imagine that drying pots evenly involved a great deal of re-wetting areas that are drying too fast. Seems to me that that is what children might've been tasked with.

[@Kargoneth]

You pose an interesting quandary: how did the ancients dry their pots uniformly? Would they have access to large amounts of grass or woven grass in Arizona? Perhaps they covered the pots in cover sherds. Anything to minimize airflow, rate of moisture loss, and heating. If you dampened the coverings, then they would humidify the pot somewhat uniformly, and as they dried they would dry the pot somewhat uniformly. Give it a try with a tall tubular pot. If the bedding of the pot were to rest on top of plant matter, then it should also be able to participate in the humidification and drying.

[@AncientPottery]

Good thoughts. Yes they had grass and woven matts as well as woven cloth. I have wondered about the use of damp cotton cloth but have never experimented with that.

[@CheerfuEntropy]

for hand painting spirals, consider rather than focusing on the two arms you are painting, focus on defining the negative space between them. In fact using a bit of leaf you could use it to define that edge, like a stencil, moving it as you go to keep the geometry consistent

[@orellinvvardengra6775]

I know it sounds selfish but I feel like this channel is a little personal hidden gem. I would love to get into this, once I get a firm handle on my other hobbies first lol! I've just begun wood working and not even enough to warrant being good at it. I was also thinking it would have taken 14 coils, close but no cigar!

[@AncientPottery]

I hope you can find time to try it after you are done with woodworking.

[@orellinvvardengra6775]

@@AncientPottery Oh I will more than likely take my first steps this summer if I'm being honest!

[@sharonwhiteman6874]

Beautiful work, I'm glad it came out intact

[@AshersWonkyPottery-gt8zw]

That is your best reduced iron paint!

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, now to see if I can do it again.

[@Raviolikid]

Beautiful pot!

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you! 😊

[@matthewsisson2634]

Andy, absolutely fascinating and informative.Thank you.

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

7 coils, maybe 8. For drying I would have just put it upside down on top of the rim with a cloth underneath so that it could contract easily, and all parts get access to air in a similar way. Same thing for the firing, but I am guessing you put it right side up to keep the designs as clean as possible.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, fired right side up because it is hard to get the bottom clean. But when drying the top is rather fragile, I could have broken the rim off if I had set it upside down, at least early on.

[@Kargoneth]

Beautiful results! A shame about the carbon deposit. Thanks for the video. Hypnotic credits with the spinning pot.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks. Like someone said, the carbon spot makes it look more authentic.

[@MomchilMichailov]

Congrats on the pot not breaking! Also my guess was 8 coils, not too far off!

[@IceLynne]

Wow, that came out so good! I'm beyond impressed 😍

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you!! 😊

[@ShereeBent]

This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this labour of love.

[@LighthouseFamilyCrafts-1592]

yay! you did it! stunning work :)

[@birgittenielsen2454]

I guessed 10 to 12 coins. Now you inspireret me to try to make one. A big one. 😁

[@AncientPottery]

Good guess. Now do it!

[@birgittenielsen2454]

Coils

[@angelageorge1966]

Beautiful

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you

[@NConnoisseur]

Trying to get into low tech ceramics specifically for making ollas around the garden, love to see it

[@AncientPottery]

I have heard it said that "low tech ceramics" is just another was of saying "primitive pottery"

[@coopart1]

Super fantastic !! What a great all around success Andy. Looks amazing

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Jeff, this is probably my best reduction firing yet. I actually have a bunch of pots to refire so maybe I'll try again in a similar fashion.

[@spitrock33]

Cranking the corn grinder is a heavy duty job lol thanks for your work

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome, I have to get my exercise somehow

[@stephenwalford774]

Fantastic result Andy..been a windy road getting there..Going to look good on your shelf

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Steve, it will look even better on somebody else's shelf.

[@mathiasbadilla7957]

Beautiful!! 😍

[@XMeister5]

I am new to this kind of pottery making and thought it would take 20 coils to make a pot this big!

[@Tzarina8472]

GG It's beautiful!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks! 😄

[@margaretsmith8066]

Such beautiful work

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you so much 😀

[@claraallen12]

YES!!!!

[@dezertdrifter]

What a success! Great video and thanks for the knowledge you share!

[@AncientPottery]

My pleasure!

[@ImDumb69420]

Awesome Andy,I'm thinking of making a large scale pot like yours,not as big though

[@AncientPottery]

Go for it!

[@elainecrawford6891]

Gorgeous! ❤👍

[@sallyboyd1212]

I first thought 14, then revised to 20. I guess I was way over!!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for playing

[@nickbrackett9023]

3 minutes in, my guess is 17 coils 🤞love your work brother God bless

[@user-no8wc9zl3v]

Looks great

[@FlyingRaven65]

I love watching your videos. My initial guess was 12 coils :)

[@ragingpatriot772]

Great job

[@toddstropicals]

I guessed 12 coils... Horseshoes & hand grenades. Beautiful pot!

[@AncientPottery]

Yeah, that's pretty close. Thanks

[@PSC9634]

Wow! The B/W jar came out beautiful. The ancients would be impressed! I think the reconstruction of your broken pot is rewarding too. I'm glad it was recovered. Great step by step instructions and cautions. I hope you're feeling better. PS: all the soil I see up on the rim is red. Are you going toward Show Low or just above Payson for white clay? A video on this search would be helpful.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, most of the ground up there is red and yet there are a lot of layers of grey and whiteish clays all around. I have never found any above Payson but I have found many from Springerville over to Heber. Try Forest Road 107 near Willow Wash, there is a road cut in there with a million different colors of clay including many light shades of grey/white

[@PSC9634]

@@AncientPottery awesome. Thank you.

[@tallakff7349]

Very strong work there. I knew an Andy Ward from Arizona while serving in Alaska 89-91 are you related or maybe the same Andy?

[@AncientPottery]

Thsnkd. I have never been to Alaska

[@guarnerrosales9806]

Olways SUPER Qlt Sir: my Respects, perfect Job Art ...Clay

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you

[@ShawnRitch]

Well done good sir !

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@VanjaKH]

A MASTERPIECE! Thank's for sharing! What can I use if I don't have mosqito sap?

[@AceFace50001]

Ehhhh. I guessed 7 coils. I could tell by coil 4 that my guess was WAY off. Anyways, thanks for another great video!!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for watching and playing along

[@GhostyOcean]

It looks like each coil gives about 1 inch in height. I think the final pot is maybe 18 inches tall (excluding the neck) so maybe 25 coils to construct. The diameter of the pot is quite large, so a large portion will be used around that part.

[@GhostyOcean]

I was WAY off, almost doubles the amount 😅

[@AncientPottery]

The problem was you overestimated the height, the pot is closer to 12 inches high.

[@chloeuntrau4588]

So beautiful...

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@Adriaanthecrafter]

When anyone asks me how I fire my pottery without a kiln or make pottery without a wheel I tell them to watch your videos and subscribe to your channel

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you for the advertisement.

[@efethecaptain6]

My guess was 27 coils. I guess my typical coils are way smaller, that might explain why I'm having hard time using the coil method.

[@AncientPottery]

There are a million ways to do it, some prefer small coils and do amazing work that way. There is no right and wrong with pottery, just what works for each person.

[@vasigioni]

Hi Andy! I follow you with great love from Romania. I timidly started to make pottery using wild clay from our area. I made a cup, which is ok, then a plate. I reached the polishing phase, everything went very well, but on the plate, on the 5th day, a small crack appeared at the top, at the edge. I used clay and sand 20%. I was going to burn it tomorrow. Do you think I can do something more, or can you tell me where I went wrong?

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you. Could it be that you allowed it to dry unevenly? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKqXknWsqJaUY68si=JmkaS7-FdbPC8GFf

[@vasigioni]

@@AncientPottery Thank you!

[@craftywamama]

I don’t know poo about making ancient pottery, but I wonder if ancient peoples might have used sand to support vessels while they dried.

[@calebwarnock9131]

When you are scraping, how much pressure are you using? I think I'm scraping too hard. It's hard to figure out the right pressure.

[@AncientPottery]

Oh it's hard to say isn't it. It kind of depends on how soft the clay is, if it is very soft I will use very little pressure but if it has firmed up a lot I will really get after it.

[@waligshi]

42 coil

[@sheilam4964]

She's a beauty.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@margaretsmith8066]

Nine coils is my guess 🤔

[@karladenton5034]

I guessed 12 coils - but thought I'd be WAY off.

[@AncientPottery]

That's pretty close

[@karladenton5034]

@@AncientPottery I'm on the textile side of things and was thinking how I would do a coil basket that size, so I'm shocked that I guessed that well. Your pot turned out so beautifully!

[@hcree1776]

Thought it would take 10!

[@waligshi]

42 coils

[@AlanDayley]

I guessed 8 coils. Sort of close.

[@glasgavlen]

I was WAY over, I guessed 16 coils.

[@user-no8wc9zl3v]

Have you seen where the Orientals water quench hot pottery

[@Mackelsey]

Not even close, I guessed 15 coils

[@user-no8wc9zl3v]

If your ground is damp to wet will that hurt the firing

[@TexRenner]

My guess was fifteen, not too far off.

[@AncientPottery]

Close

[@jacobyoung7018]

I thought it would be 15 coils

[@AncientPottery]

Not quite that many

[@J9_j3]

i thought it'll be around 60 coils

[@AncientPottery]

Wow, way less. Thanks

[@jillatherton4660]

😄👍👏

[@Xerkies]

I got 10! I really thought i was gonna be far off 😂

[@raptorjesus2572]

15 was my guess

[@amyrodgers9887]

I thought it would take 17 coils

[@AncientPottery]

Not too far off

[@CheerfuEntropy]

you have ruins?

[@northernflyer5311]

My guess: 10 coils

[@AncientPottery]

Close