Handmade Tigua Pottery Flower Design

The pottery is handmade by Albert Alvidrez, a member of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo-Tigua Indian Reservation. Each piece is individually created using either a slab, pinch pot, hand-coiled, or wheel-thrown technique.  The process takes approximately three weeks from start to finish.  Each piece is made from either natural or commercial clays.  These are the general steps used to create each pottery piece: Work the clay. Make it pliable and soft Form the pottery piece using slab, pinch, or coil techniques. Allow to naturally air dry Refine the piece by sanding or rubbing the piece to establish a smooth surface Clean the piece with a wet sponge Allow the piece to dry Begin the process of painting. Artists will use natural, commercial, or a combination of pigments.  Note: the artist does not use any pencil outlines to develop the design.  It is applied and created one brushstroke at a time.  Each pottery piece will dictate its final look and characteristics. Allow the piece to dry and set