Primitive Pottery for Beginners - Everything You Need To Get Started

A thorough but simple explanation of what primitive pottery is and how to make it.
The best way to learn primitive pottery fast is with my online master classes at ancientpottery.how/classes/
Product Links
Corn grinder for clay - amzn.to/3LLrAiw
Infrared thermometer for firing - amzn.to/40VWoS0
Manganese dioxide powder - amzn.to/3Lssq2m
Copper carbonate powder - amzn.to/44lVrWg
Iron oxide powder - amzn.to/3AK5iYd
Other Primitive Potters
Tony Soares channel - ‪@tonysoaresnativeclays1434‬
My Tony Soares video - • Tony Soares, Paddle an...
Kelly Magleby website - kayentafire.com
Kelly Magleby video - • Earth and Fire: Anasaz...
Clint Swink website - swinkart.com
Clint Swink video - • Meet Clint Swink, Anas...
John Olsen video - • John Olsen Corrugated ...
Tori Hoopes video - • Meet Tori Hoopes, Anci...
Ron Carlos video - • Paddle and Anvil: A Pi...
Ron Carlos Instagram - / r.carlospottery
Pascal Baudar website - www.pascalbaudarceramics.com
Pascal Baudar Instagram - / wildcraftedceramics
Bobby Silas video - • The Lost Art of Hopi C...
Bobby Silas pottery - elmoreindianart.com/Detailed/...
Diego Valles website - diegovallespottery.com
Magdalena Kopiczko channel - ‪@makopiczko‬
More Learning
Coil pottery - • Coil Pottery Technique...
Pottery paint - • How To Use Natural Pig...
Wild clay - • How to Find and Proces...
Outdoor pottery firing - • How to Fire Pottery Ou...
Southwest Kiln Conference - www.swkiln.com
🏺 Wednesday Zoom pottery class - ancientpottery.how/ancient-po...
❤️ Channel membership - / ancientpottery
🛍 Shop my website: ancientpottery.how/shop/
📚 Workshops and masterclasses - ancientpottery.how/classes/
⭐️ Social media
Facebook - / andywardpottery
Instagram - / ancientpottery
CHAPTERS
0:00 What is Primitive Pottery?
3:24 Where to Get Materials for Primitive Pottery?
8:38 How to Make Primitive Pottery?
12:50 Meet Other Primitive Potters
14:54 How to Fire Primitive Pottery?
📬 Send me mail
Andy Ward PO Box 43601 Tucson, AZ 85733
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@AncientPottery]

Sorry to tell you, but Ron Carlos, one of the potters featured here, passed away yesterday, May 3, 2023. Watch the documentary made about Ron at this link kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKTUZ62pm7KredU

[@dorkymom4810]

That is really too bad. Just based on videos and information I've seen about Ron Carlos, he seemed like an amazing individual, I really respect that his passion seemed focused on ensuring 2 that his family's heritage and traditions were not lost, as I feel is happening with an increasing rate.

[@jensenchavez265]

It turns out that the clay on my property is excellent building material and I'm making a bowl a day until I have more pookies. I'm so glad I came out to your workshop.

[@AncientPottery]

That sounds great, I can't wait to see what you make Jenson.

[@VoxNerdula]

If you have an old toilet sitting around you can grind it up to put in your clay for temper.

[@aaronmarks9519]

I've not created a single bowl or pot in my life, but stumbling across your videos has inspired me to get more creative and go out and create. Thanks for the positive energy.

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome, have fun!

[@susannabruun435]

Can I just say thank you!! I’m a collector of hobbies and recently found a big spot of clay in our back yard, we processed a few pounds and finally started making things with it today but I wasn’t sure how to fire it without a kiln! So thank you SO much! ❤

[@AncientPottery]

Glad I could help! Have fun!

[@RebeccaRoseS]

I love it every time you say dooblidoo :D

[@ChadZuberAdventures]

Great video with lots of useful information! 👍

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Chad!

[@carlstanley3358]

I love the fact that my two favorite KZbinrs watch each other's videos

[@Daisy-Doo]

youre so informative and your passion for the craft really shines and makes you want to run out and start trying to make all kinds of pottery. thank you for sharing

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you!

[@briankepner7569]

Beginning to think the term primitive pottery is a misnomer considering the excellence in design and form and function of these potteries. I'm actually astounded I hadn't really thought about Southwest pottery much other than the Anna pottery my dad had on a shelf. Thank you for your education.

[@entrepreneursfinest]

Drilling piers on a construction site in Utah. Just got about 5 gallons of some extremely nice raw clay from around 20 feet down. Going to give it a try this weekend.

[@paulm965]

Such a generous nature to spotlight the work of others. Thanks for the video and links, Andy.

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@createyourpeace6896]

I can't stop watching his videos. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and making everything so accessible!

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@cjgaming5544]

Very useful and best channel for beginners.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@PSC9634]

Great definition of primative related to pottery. As a beginner, this was excellent. Thank you!

[@AncientPottery]

Glad to hear it, thanks for watching

[@sheilam4964]

Some of those pieces you showed of other potter's works and pointed out they were produced with primative tools blew my mind. And some of them were just out right breath taking. A very inspiring collection of information. Thanks Andy.

[@AncientPottery]

You are welcome, glad you enjoyed it

[@BuzzBuzzImaWasp]

Just came across this video and it's inspired me to try my hand at Pottery, thank you so much for this amazing and helpful video!

[@jameslawson6245]

I grew up in Central New York, we had Syracuse China that provided several retailers with Local Dinnerware and Now They are Gone! There are some remnants in pallets in Bisque form that still exist there and if you retrieve them there is a local Ceramic Shop, Clayscapes that will fire them for you!

[@angeladazlich7145]

This video will encourage a lot of people.

[@AncientPottery]

You managed to sneak into this video twice Angela!

[@angeladazlich7145]

@@AncientPottery I did? lol

[@mikesterbrau]

Well done and thank you for doing this video. Love your comments and insights.

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@alimay1011]

This is an excellent beginners information resource video. thankyou Andy

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@shesothorny9892]

This is very informative! Thank you for taking the time to put this video together

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@chelseateague7241]

You are incredible!! I only came across your videos yesterday but you inspired me to go out into the sunshine and gather my own wild clay!! Now I have a jar of clay and a jar of sand waiting for me to process them! Without your guidance I'd have never had the get up and go in me to do this myself so THANK YOU!!!

[@cliffordkelly5327]

Once again Andy , Yuve nailed it ! And what you said about resources for making primitive pottery were very limited back in the day ( 60’s/ 70’s) Thank you so much again for sharing & clarifying ancient pottery ways !

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks!

[@hakeem4802]

Thank you so much for the introduction. May your artful hands be blessed!

[@charleswalker2484]

yessss YESSSS this is exactly what I wanted from this channel

[@AncientPottery]

Glad I could give you what you were looking for.

[@caroljames9026]

I’m so glad I stumbled upon your channel! I can start turning my neigh sayers to your channel and videos to help explain and help inspire others to understand and take up the primitive lifestyle.

[@AncientPottery]

I am glad you found it too.

[@renpixie]

Thanks for another top-notch video Andy.

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@autumnrain1892]

Thank you for sharing your art with us. ❤

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@tonysoaresnativeclays1434]

Thanks Andy, I love the primitive definition.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Tony

[@willorocks]

Great informative video Andy!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Will!

[@Earthy-Artist]

Thank you for beginner video! Hope to try my hand at it. I loved working with clay in high school, {not bragging} had A's on my sculptures & coiled pots. Not so good on the wheel I needed more practice to get the 'feel'. All these years thought pottery was out of my reach because I would need a kiln. Thanks to your channel so glad to find out pottery can be an option for me again! I have my hands in so many various creative projects, and gardening, cooking etc. etc. the most difficult thing is finding enough time to try/do everything I have an interest in, the list is long!

[@user-jv9cs7hz1j]

This is a helpful video just started about 3 months ago learning to make Native American pottery

[@AncientPottery]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CeeJayKay]

Thankyou Andy for another very helpful video. 👍🏻

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@togrowagarden]

you always produce such quality content, thanks! and thanks for providing other artists to look at. I was just thinking this morning that I need to build my first pot, then your video popped up. I spent a few weeks gathering clay from the Pala Chief mine in CA, then making a plaster drying basin, then wet processing it and adding temper from the local creek and I finally have a few bags of clay ready to use ( I think). Funny how the universe works like that.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you, sounds like you are making good progress.

[@loadapish]

Its interesting watching this from scotland and seeing the ground you get the clay from. Our ground goes from wet to waterlogged to marsh and swamp. Dry ground is very unusual here but in the summer we might be lucky and get a few weeks of sun. There is a field near where i live that i know clay exists. Its a grey colour. Need to dig it out of wet mud though

[@Raviolikid]

Good video! I can’t wait for the weather to improve so I can get put there and try my hand at making some primitive pottery.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks! Have fun

[@mojavebohemian814]

Oh, so good; thank you.

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@chompers11]

Damn andy your videos have improved a lot and I used to and still do love em. Very impressive all the hard work youve been putting in. 101k subs WOW

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks a lot, trying to up my game all the time.

[@jegathusingh3482]

I want to learn a course for primitive pottery when i grow up

[@AncientAmericas]

That black pot you showed at 5:03 is stunning. Does that style have a name and were people producing it (or anything similar) in ancient times?

[@AncientPottery]

Well, kind of. The ancient equivalent is Ramos Black ceramics.nmarchaeology.org/typology/type?p=480 which is not decorated or as highly polished and the modern use of graphite makes those shine like metal.

[@AncientAmericas]

@@AncientPottery Thank you so much! I appreciate the response!

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

Great video, Sir! A cut and dry method is what a lot of people are looking for, and it is helpful when getting started for sure, and also if someone hasn't got it quite right yet after many tries... This will get people on track for sure! As far as primitive goes, I assumed that primitive meant Crow Magnon! Anything made like Crow Magnon people is primitive.... perhaps it is a spectrum, being pottery wheel and store bought clay, fired with an electric kiln, being least primitive and using natural clay, building with hands only, and firing with fire... being the most primitive... Good stuff, since we are all primates, maybe everything we do is a level of primitive! LOL! 5 star video here, sir! we all agree!

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you so much.

[@Timmyjg2004]

Nice

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@Ghosut6]

Hello, Andy, I hope you will show even more techniques in the future. I would love to learn more advanced stuff since there is not much information about pottery and clay. I want to suggest that you should speak a bit louder since the sound isn't the best. Thank you for the effort and huge resource of the information. Seriously you are sharing a lot of valuable information with this world.

[@AncientPottery]

I adjust the sound on my videos when I am editing them to the recommended level. For more advanced lessons you should check out the Ancient Potters Club where we make pottery together over Zoom every Wednesday night.

[@CapnGimp]

I have watched your videos for days here at home trying to learn as much as possible before I start. I especially like the history you have given. Now I will add a minor suggestion, 20 percent is not 4 to 1. Twenty percent is 5 to 1, 4 to one is 25 percent. Okie dokie, now back to the important stuff, watching the videos, tans a bunch for putting all this info out there!! I'm is the same desert about 65 miles south of Alpine, TX, off-grid for the last 5 years. Retrieved some hardened mud from one of my driveways mudholes yesterday and about to add water to it to break up/dissolve the clumps and see how it looks. May use a hammer to bust it up until I get a grinder.

[@AncientPottery]

I love that country around Alpine, it looks a lot like southeast Arizona. Now for your lesson. A ratio is not like a fraction, with a fraction the bottom number represents the total number of parts. With a ratio, no number indicates the total, only by adding the two numbers will you find the total. So 1/5 is 20% but a ration of 1:4 is also 20% because it means 1 part of the first element and 4 parts of the second with a total number of parts of 5. So to recap, 20% = 1/5 = 1:4

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

​@@AncientPottery 👍💯😉

[@CapnGimp]

@@AncientPottery I see! Thanks a bunch.

[@carlstanley3358]

As always a great and useful video. I've been trying now for sometime to work with clay from my land only. I believe there's a good-enough clay content in my soil that I can either water levigate it or dry levigate it to make clay. It passes the ring test that I learned from you and it does fire and stay solid. But even after firing it still has a slightly brittle nature to it. I'm guessing this is too much sand or temper in my mix? I have no experience other than this clay to compare it to. I am a complete beginner. But have managed to make a few cups bowls game pieces in a game board for my children. Even a small oya pot (not Sure on spelling of that -its a pot for watering in my garden.) And I've been pouring letting water soaked through it every day for almost a month now and it has not disintegrated yet. So I think I'm getting it and I've got good clay but I'm not really sure.

[@AncientPottery]

I would guess too much temper. But some clays are just not really good for pottery, and it could just be an inadequate clay. Maybe try levigating it real good, then adding only 20% temper and firing as usual. If it is still brittle but fully fired I would just say it is a shortcoming of the clay.

[@carlstanley3358]

@@AncientPottery your so amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. It really helps to have someone with exsperance just to check with and bounce ideas off of.

[@davidbean5807]

Serious question have you ever used dried and crushed powdered eggshells in or on your pots? Just thinking eggshell is made of minerals. Kinda curious how it would work out if used on top of a slip coat.

[@ncisawesome]

Could be possibly used as paint? Might be interesting if fired but im not sure what will happen to the egg shells once fired. Might be like limestone where once it gets wet it expands and starts to crack

[@rasewarrior666]

Have you ever thought of attaching a drill to your corn grinder

[@AncientPottery]

Not sure it would have the torque needed. But I have considered an electric motor

[@JenniferRhicard]

Hi I am a laborer driller. we go to depths of 100ft & more in some cases. I have found pure blue / black clays! I am a beginner at knowing clay's etc. I would love to make my own pottery with this pure amazing thick and yet so malleable clay. I would like thoughts and opinions with your experience. I could send pictures, its quite lovely to see.

[@GrandpasPlace]

650-700f is hotter than you get on your oven? That is the temperature range for electric self cleaning ovens when you hit the clean button. Ive used it to clean cast iron pans as it burns off everything including the seasoning and returns it to bare metal.

[@AncientPottery]

650 - 700 C, not F

[@morganmlaidd]

I am curious about earthenware eating utensils. Is it possible use them without glaze? Thinking probably more for scooping dry foods, like flour etc.

[@rommelfcc]

Intresting avout using copper carbonite for making black and not green What about using copper oxide for making greens?

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

"primitive" or "prime" means "first" or "original". How did we end up making a bad name out of that? I like the values transmitted by this video.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@JonathonSisson]

Are there any decent howto books for traditional pottery without modern tools and materials? Any recommendations?

[@kiirsemaar]

Hi, this is a question I've wanted to ask- i live in the East of England and i live an area where we have lime-rich clay soil. Is this useable? Should i add temper and do a kiln test? My idea was to dry out the wet clay and filter it but is there a more convenient way? I can dig a little and easily find wet clay in my garden, so if its useable that'd be great! I know this is a long ramble but it's hard to find info that's relevant to where I live! I'm very interested in the neolithic pottery of Britain, I love seeing the local finds!

[@AncientPottery]

Lime rich clays cannot be fired over about 820 C or the pottery can break when it gets wet. See this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHKWm2x-gNmLqrM

[@delphicdescant]

Won't 650-700 C not even technically hit bisque fire range? Will pottery fired at temperatures that low even hold water? I'd been led to believe it takes quite a bit more than 700 C to make even just decent earthenware stuff, let alone all the other types of ceramics. Where is the disconnect?

[@AncientPottery]

You have been misinformed. While some of it does depend on the clay used, most clays will turn to ceramics by the time you get to 700 C. Ancient Southwestern pottery was all fired quite low, most of it below what modern bisque ware is fired to. Rarely was native pottery fired over 850 C, that was hot enough to make it into ceramics.

[@adiamond1978]

Thanks! Can I use just any 'ole sand for tempering, like the stuff in my backyard, or do I need something finer?

[@adiamond1978]

Also, sorry to hear about your buddy. I just started watching your videos.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks. Yes just ordinary sand will do the trick.

[@mihailvormittag6211]

👍

[@C-M-E]

Out of curiosity, what do you specifically mean/define when using the term prehistoric? Like literally as 'pre-history' or recorded data, or the more vague term we're taught as children to be anything from pioneer to dinosaur history? I hear it mentioned with pottery to be more specific, but haven't really heard anyone nail it down exactly. Add: As one (me in this case) gets into learning old techniques, I've mentioned this to a few colleagues of mine about primitive versus different terminology, because just the word 'primitive' is immediately attached to a certain stigma of lower evolution or intelligence. In the end I label it broadly as 'analog' and things are more readily understood by a certain generation. For me, analog kind of starts up in the 1900s, which by any measure of industry or revolutions today could be called primitive, i.e. the building blocks of a modern process. It's all intonations of the english language and part of the way people are taught/learn it--which if the education I received versus what my children are getting is any measure--becoming more and more deficient by the year.

[@AncientPottery]

Prehistoric can mean different time periods depending on where in the world you are. It means before written history. So in Europe that could be thousands of years ago, but here in the American Southwest it means before 1540 when the Spanish arrived. Some (easily offended) people now use the term prehispanic which is thoroughly stupid if you ask me.

[@C-M-E]

@@AncientPottery Thank you for the clarification! I've yet to dig into some real meaty pottery books as the chemistry is the thing that interests me foremost, as well as the artistic creation itself. I hear you on reversions of the 'PC' people though. I've recently been informed by my daughter that this is called 'Being Online'; to be used in a derogatory nature. Ugh, kids...

[@acavoxnegledajtelevizor401]

3:07 these beaskets looks beautiful is there tutorial how to make it 😍 or did someone know name of technics which are used for these pieces.

[@AncientPottery]

They are just some baskets I have around, I am not a basket expert so can't say much about them. One is Seri, another is Tohono O'odham and another is some cheap junk from Pakistan or something.

[@jillabigaelsmith]

I’m hoping for a referral of an infrared thermometer. What temp should I aim for? Thank you!

[@AncientPottery]

There’s a link in the dooblydoo. Make sure you get one that will go up to 1000 C or close to it.

[@raigarmullerson4838]

Love the content brother. Cheers from Estonia.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you

[@bonniebieniek1231]

Ohhhh So sorry too here about Ron... His tribe has lost a great insparation and teacher!!

[@AncientPottery]

Truly

[@marthadefrank8785]

Could you show us how to make a brick?

[@AncientPottery]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6utoHyjicSSrsU

[@phillipjackson2877]

Would colored mica powder work to color the clay?

[@AncientPottery]

Maybe

[@davidbean5807]

Have you ever tried using black sand, aluminum oxide, or sulfur powder in any of your clay pots? Just curious.

[@AncientPottery]

No, why would they be useful?

[@davidbean5807]

@@AncientPottery I am not sure. That is why I was curious. I am not a potter but I have been watching a marathon of pottery channels on youtube, and I just subscribed to your channel. I don't get out much anymore with a bad heart and handicapped. But I get to watch and wonder. Basically, my easiest escape is to live vicariously through others on youtube. I know it makes me sound pathetic but for years I worked long hard hours and burnt my candle from both ends and the middle and now when I keep getting reprimanded by my doctors for doing anything. Not saying this looking for sympathy, just Letting you know why I am curious and not out there trying it for myself. And I am not lazy. I hope the questions I post don't bother you. I do not want to be too big of a nuisance. I just believe it is important to learn something new every day until we are no longer around.

[@rahemeenkhan2790]

Now thats a really handsome grandpa right there

[@susannabruun435]

Oh my word… do you burnish the slip with a dry smooth stone??? 🤦🏼‍♀️no wonder my slip has been smudging and coming off. I was wetting my stone 😂

[@AncientPottery]

Burnishing is done with a dry stone

[@bje2920]

Good video how is ron carLos doing ? i know he's in the hospital

[@AncientPottery]

He has gone into hospice as of the latest post on his Facebook this morning. 😔 A good guy and far too young for this.

[@bje2920]

@@AncientPottery ok thank you iknow he's a great guy

[@mpgaming07]

is this your job or passion... wondering whats your job?

[@AncientPottery]

A little of both. I am a full-time KZbinr

[@aemorion]

Doobly doo? Is someone a matt colville fan...?

[@AncientPottery]

Nope, Dooblydoo was coined by @wheezywaiter

[@junito1957]

I AM SHOCK THAT PEOPLE DONT USE A FORGE TO FIRE UP YOUR POTTERY THAT YOU COULD BUILD OUT OF A PROPANE TANK VERY EASY TO DO OR YOU GET SOMEONE TO BUILD ONE FOR YOU