Pottery by Osa

Nigerian American studio potter
 Gulf Coast Florida
 Tap “Media” for pottery content 👇🏾

#Gardening Zone 10b

I often stuff additional details into my #alttext along with photo description.

Public Key

npub19k78npxk2d3vw2f30gqhhreyzv4my7ugv9udshjx5yyz6a3v5vxqua0sff

NIP-05 Address

potterybyosa@mastodon-social.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqszm0resnt9xck89ych5qtm3ujpx2aj0wyxz7xcter2zzpdwck2xrqpxzy8g

Author Public Key

npub19k78npxk2d3vw2f30gqhhreyzv4my7ugv9udshjx5yyz6a3v5vxqua0sff

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Last Notes

2025-04-09 19:44:21

A blog post from Studio Stiina, a potter in Princeton, BC, about her journey working with #wildclay from her home province Saskatchewan. We’ve been emailing back and forth ever since she finished reading my clay zine. Aside from the technical stuff, there’s so much sentiment around connection to a place through its clay, which I relate to deeply. In so many different senses, clay holds memory.
https://www.stiina.net/blog/wild-clay-process
#pottery #clay #ceramics #keramik #nature

2025-04-08 22:24:06

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@nprofile…tqx4 I love that the fluidity of the pot matches the flow of the glaze.

2025-04-08 20:12:40

I’ll be traveling to my home state #Virginia in June to present at the Women Working with Clay Symposium at Hollins University in #Roanoake alongside ceramicists Andrèa Keys Connell, Shikha Joshi and Crystal Morey. Registration is open now.
Showing my process to a live audience can be nerve racking, but I do enjoy these smaller, more intimate ceramic conferences and hope to bring home #clay samples from my birthplace.
https://www.hollins.edu/academics/continuing-education-camps/wwwc/
#pottery #ceramics #clayconference #womenincrafts

2025-04-06 20:43:50

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.
https://potterybyosa.com/blogs/clay-people/rare-images-from-nigerian-pottery-a-look-at-historical-forms
#pottery #Nigeria #AfricanArt #ceramics

2025-04-05 13:16:16

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@nprofile…eedx I follow some of those hashtags but haven’t seen much discussion of no-till gardening. Just lots of happy ppl showing their seedlings and harvests lol :)

2025-04-04 23:12:58

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@nprofile…eedx We rarely see earth worms around here because our soil is mostly sand. SW Florida is a strange place geologically. Been living here for five years, still figuring it out. Thanks for the response, hope you share more about your gardening practices.

2025-04-04 22:45:29

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@nprofile…eedx Is no-dig the same as no-till? Do you just layer compost and other materials on top of your beds whenever you’re ready for a new round of planting? I’ve been experimenting with this method with varied results. Soil quality has been a struggle for us.

2025-04-04 21:43:01

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
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/281/847/020/606/847/original/f25672b8185ea0c4.mp4

2025-04-04 16:12:20

I’m ending the week on one of my favorite parts of the process—selecting coordinating hues of glaze and terra sigillata to paint my pots. I started working this way about a year ago. After collecting clay samples for many years, I finally began using them to decorate my pottery. It has added so much to my work in terms of cultural expression and connection to the Earth. More details in the #alttext
#ceramics #clay #pottery #wildclay #WIP
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/280/514/292/578/294/original/c5fe1493a9143b08.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/280/515/893/416/264/original/5066afdfeab619ff.jpeg

2025-04-03 17:34:27

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.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/275/190/070/973/280/original/5b7266bfbd895152.jpeg

2025-04-02 14:40:04

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

2025-03-29 16:10:17

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.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/246/546/380/903/308/original/e417da73eac846e2.jpeg

2025-03-28 02:42:33

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 #Taíno potter I met in #PuertoRico when we visited in 2023. #AliceChéverez of Morovis carries on the ancient art of her people, passed on to her by her mother. #alttext #Indigenous #ceramics
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/237/699/670/290/564/original/c5e99c0a762d0d24.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/237/699/973/741/057/original/9ca05ca8d021c20b.jpeg
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2025-03-26 15:29:24

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. I just called my rep and he’s voting against, thank goodness, and he’s a republican.
https://m.flsenate.gov/senators

2025-03-19 19:58:10

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
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/190/833/232/678/422/original/485a02f9a6919c51.jpeg

2025-03-19 13:24:20

#Clay is so common, I can't believe I took no notice of it for most of my life. As soon as I learned it was abundant in the landscape, I just started seeing it everywhere. "Earthen Rainbow: Working with #WildClay Terra Sigillata at Midrange" is a #zine I wrote describing this experience of connecting with the land and how it's inspired my studio practice. It's also a guide for other clay artists, with technical tips and recipes.
https://potterybyosa.com/collections/clay-zine-workshops
#ZinesByOsa #pottery #ceramics #zines
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/189/311/128/721/789/original/86fb64677c277302.jpg

2025-03-18 18:05:07

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Tree cutters and wood workers have to pay to dispose of this stuff so you’re doing them a favor to take it off their hands.
My husband found out about ChipDrop a few years back. Get a bunch of free mulch delivered to you for free, straight from tree cutters.
And lastly, you can make free #compost by asking a coffee shop to save their used grounds and combine with free untreated sawdust. It’s the only reason I go to Starbucks lol.
https://getchipdrop.com/
#gardening #permaculture

2025-03-18 17:59:38

Between #gardening and #pottery, I’ve found so much use for free wood scraps. There’s just so much scrap wood out there from felling trees, woodworking and shipping pallets. Just make sure the wood is untreated. I got these scraps from a local woodworker that I’ll use in my outdoor #rocketkiln and for backyard fires. Also got a bag of sawdust which I’ll use to saggar fire pottery and to add carbon to my #compost. 🧵
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/184/703/005/907/760/original/f52be37f6a99b45a.jpeg

2025-03-17 18:54:37

I made a #zine sharing my experiments and explorations collecting and using #wildclay to decorate my pottery as a way to encourage others to dabble with free, local materials in an easy, non-technical way. I share process, recipes and insights, letting you into my studio practice. Lots of photos of clay samples & test tiles. Available in print or digital (including a printer spread so you can print and make your own zine.)
https://potterybyosa.com/collections/clay-zine-workshops
#ZinesByOsa #pottery #ceramics
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/179/247/748/341/476/original/3e4c6020039b1d39.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/179/249/312/035/323/original/5522b42857f26535.jpeg

2025-03-06 23:03:19

Whenever I have new #pottery ready, I send an email to my subscribers. It’s a way for me to communicate with people who want to buy my work and it’s also a place to express myself in more than 500 characters since I like to write. I describe my process, explain the thoughts behind certain pieces, share my inspirations, etc. The next one goes out tomorrow morning. If you’d like to sign up, visit my website.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/117/920/064/127/994/original/3c05e2f0fe5e86a5.jpeg

2025-03-05 16:51:30

Being a potter means drawing from a vocabulary of tried-and-true forms: mugs, teapots, bowls, pitchers, etc. However, these archetypal forms have European & Asian origins.
I thought it would be interesting to everyone & affirming to other Black ceramicists to reference #African forms in contemporary tableware. The combining of European, Asian and African ceramics traditions goes back to mid-20th century, but that history is omitted from US #ceramic education. See #alttext for details. #pottery
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/110/732/746/134/164/original/c879aa37aead1c3a.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/110/732/760/988/282/original/153171a2db7003e9.jpeg

2025-03-04 17:43:53

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Just unloaded the kiln and everything came out great including these jars. They’ll make great kitchen storage for #compost, cookies, rice, oats—or perhaps the most cheerful burial urn you’ve ever seen. I’ll keep the one that came out with a slightly troublesome lid and offer the one that came out perfectly. #beautility #utilitarianclay #ceramics #keramik #pottery
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/105/359/299/597/720/original/a27de47be6099071.jpeg

2025-03-04 01:39:29

“Community ownership is central to Tainá. The data are stored locally—not on the cloud—and the community decides which parts get shared with the world. It’s a far cry from the status quo of “Big Tech lords deciding what to do with our data,” explained Gatto. Gatto is also a member of GainForest, a Zurich-based science nonprofit that started Tainá and has worked with Inhaã-bé members for a year.”
https://atmos.earth/indigenous-groups-are-safeguarding-culture-with-their-own-chatgpt/
#indigenous #tech #ChatGPT #ai #science

2025-03-02 16:40:29

I’m preparing to offer #ollasbyosa for the first time next weekend and I’m really struggling with pricing. I wish they could be $15 a pop, but I wouldn’t be paying myself a living wage. Ollas are such a great environmental solution, I wish they could be as cheap as possible. Going the #DIY route (prefab terracotta pots & silicone) is the most cost effective but then you’re just buying cheap corporate products manufactured overseas. Artful #environmentalism only for those with $$ is a sad thing.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/093/754/852/932/617/original/f5cb88bd2665353d.jpeg

2025-02-28 03:41:32

I’ve been having trouble uploading videos to Mastodon mobile app for a couple weeks now so I decided to try a new client. I downloaded a couple and liked #IceCubes the best. It works really well and also it’s very aesthetically pleasing, and makes the Fediverse feel like a warmer place. (It does use #OpenAI to generate #alttext and as a writing assistant which I’m fine with but I know that’s a dealbreaker for some.)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/079/376/734/795/592/original/a26529883b1bc97e.mp4

2025-02-24 15:45:40

Right now, I'm working on an article that shares tips about making terra sigillata (a refined decorating slip) from #wildclay, which builds off of some older writing I've done. Here is a blog post from last year about finding and foraging clay in nature.
https://potterybyosa.com/blogs/clay-people/finding-clay-in-nature
#clay #pottery #ceramics #nature #land #Earth #gratitude

2025-02-20 16:08:49

I was building my portfolio last night and came across this photo of a piece from my 1st solo show in 2022. As I've explained before, I can't get this glaze to work anymore so I won't be making pieces like this anytime soon.
The pitcher & basin set resembles Botticelli’s #Venus standing in a clam shell. However, the intention of this piece was simply to honor #water as a ritual element with spiritual significance, not to reference the painting.
#pottery #ceramics #historicalforms
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/037/033/840/683/039/original/f77cf1813a8edc7e.jpg

2025-02-19 02:43:54

Working on a pair of #compost crocks (among other things) to hopefully be fired by the end of the month. We’ve outgrown our old one so one of these will be the replacement. They each hold somewhere around a gallon/4L. The double handles make them easy to carry & dump, and the lids fit snuggly. They’re sturdy pieces of functional ware, which also serve as decorative objects when not in use. I’m excited to see them glazed. #beautility #functionalpottery #gardening #permaculture #ceramics #pottery
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/028/198/317/662/369/original/74e0963a20630f09.png

2025-02-17 15:37:55

Visited the clay pit on our way back home and collected some #wildclay samples I hope to use on my #pottery. Florida was still underwater when most of the rest of what we call the United States was well above sea level. Our soil is young and sandy, especially in the southern part of the state. It’s harder to find #clay here, but you still can. I’m grateful to be able to enjoy this stunning piece of land between the last time it was underwater and the next time it becomes submerged again.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/019/955/911/265/643/original/29c9003eee79d789.mp4

2025-02-13 14:25:52

Living #BlackHistory. I’m working on a #documentary about my mentor, retired Syracuse Univ Professor and master potter #DavidMacDonald. Was very surprised to learn that many #HBCUs had #ceramics programs, most of which are now defunct. David attended Hampton U and had an African American ceramics professor, Joseph Gilliard. David’s personal story is a portal into the entire history of Black ceramic art in the US. #BLM #BlackLivesMatter #BlackArt #pottery https://vimeo.com/733775905

2025-02-12 19:01:31

Since I wiped my IG, there’s no way for people to see my progress over the years. I’m thinking about adding a gallery of past work to my website to remedy this. 1st photo shows work from 2017, 2nd photo shows work from 2024.
I started making #pottery in 2013 at age 34. I knew nothing of handmade #ceramics or the history behind it and had to self-educate. After over a decade studying historical pottery & natural materials, my pieces have become living cultural artifacts. #alttext for details.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/992/391/789/359/860/original/43db23436901093a.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/992/392/936/236/938/original/ce47d923646ffbab.png

2025-02-11 05:54:56

My very first digital #zine after making black & white//cut & paste xerox style all my life. I made it for kids and I think these stories deserve to be in full color 🌈
I say I made it for them, but I learned so, so much and had so many realizations while making this zine. A small, bright act of resistance.
#QueerYouth #LGBTQyouth #GenderIdentity #Florida #LGBTQ #nonbinary #transgender #colonization #TwoSpirit #ShotgunSeamstress #ZinesByOsa
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/339e5fe862.html

2025-02-07 20:07:43

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@nprofile…3z5d I made them on the pottery wheel.

2025-02-07 18:06:22

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Also, for those who harvest rainwater, it’s exciting to be able to deliver that water directly to plant roots in an efficient way. #permaculture

2025-02-07 18:01:50

Olla update: I’ve had my #garden ollas in place for 2 weeks now and they are still half to 2/3 full of water. The seedlings around them have grown steadily. We’ve had light rain once in the last two weeks. The true test will be when temperatures start to sore, but so far this #irrigation method has been impressively easy & efficient. It’s wild to know that an #ancienttechnology can still be so useful and relevant. I love clay! #pottery #ceramics #keramik #permaculture #gardening
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/963/825/054/040/345/original/aee0e0a82e51bd19.png
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2025-02-07 01:00:40

The black on this mug comes from terra sigillata made from a ball of manganese-rich New Mexico clay my friend gave me. After they’re done firing, I lightly sand the exterior of each mug with a fine-grain sandpaper. The handles become smooth and soft to the touch.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/959/833/888/237/899/original/59646affb560bae4.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/959/834/052/064/032/original/9130fb5df54048f3.png

2025-01-24 17:58:53

I threw a few #garden ollas on the #pottery wheel yesterday and can’t wait to make more. I feel inspired by this #ancient irrigation method that is still so relevant and useful today.
As a species, humans have been so extremely creative and innovative. I still hold out hope that we can create solutions to all of our social and #environmental problems through applying combinations of #ancientwisdom and #globaltechnologies. This is why #indigenoussovereignty is so important to our future.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/884/593/191/344/560/original/1c7503fc485e0dc1.png
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2025-01-22 01:07:02

Was given this helpful #artbiz advice years ago, and want to pass it on: Your email list should be your primary #marketing tool. Do not rely on any 3rd party app (including this one) to connect you with people who are interested in your work.
Growing my email list is what gave me the freedom to move away from IG. Email subscribers are 100x more engaged than social media scrollers. They don't mind reading paragraphs and are way more likely to make a purchase. Think #qualitynotquantity

2025-01-21 16:00:51

My last #selfie for the algorithm before I deleted IG last weekend. Goodbye after 12 yrs + 50k followers 👋🏾 I couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t gained some traction here, so thank you for following.
I grew up in #punkrock and #anarchist organizing, so moving to #NonCorporate and #decentralized social media feels full circle. I want my #pottery to be part of a future of thought that represents progress and liberation.
#punk #clay #ceramics #nonhierarchical #art #blackmastodon #africanart
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/867/123/892/545/121/original/7b5af0b2519fc2bd.png

2025-01-20 13:39:12

Today, we celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and share the history of the udu, a Nigerian clay drum, with local youth. Hands-on clay activity and live musical performance for Freedom School families and the greater community in Sarasota, Florida. Sponsored by http://kaaboclay.org
#mlk #clay #kidsart #music #africandrum #nigeria #music #blackmastodon #kaaboclay
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/860/930/112/618/894/original/22b15d67780586e9.png

2025-01-15 01:52:47

Every #potter, every #craftsperson, is a #culturalpreservationist. When I took my first pottery class 12 years ago, I had no idea what I was participating in, how ancient and huge it was.
A South African potter named #JabulileNala taught me how to coil build. She comes from a long line of #Zulu potters with a tradition extending back at least 2,000 years.
Biseat Yakwal took this #filmphoto of me teaching a coil building workshop in Gainesville, FL in 2023.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/829/814/558/963/235/original/63ae3dcd3a5cb28c.jpg

2025-01-14 04:52:44

We have so much to learn from the ways #plants adapt to their environment. I love making pots that pour, and the super long spout on this plant watering can was a fun challenge. Water is life, and throughout history, people have made beautiful vessels to contain it.
The pot is decorated with #wildclay collected in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama and Lake Ontario. I turn the clays into decorating slips called terra sigillata that I paint onto the surface.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/824/851/238/580/545/original/395c7a5e22f2d7f9.png

2025-01-10 21:15:01

Thoughts on this? I think #ProjectLiberty taking over #TikTok is a great solution. You can join the bid! #ThePeoplesBid https://www.projectliberty.io/peoples-bid-for-tiktok/

2025-01-10 01:28:23

The Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (MALAN) team is maintaining a list of resources available to those affected by the fires in the Google Sheet (follow link) and will update it with new resources or calls for volunteers & donations.
#mutualaid #lafires #losangeles
https://mutualaidla.org/

2025-01-09 19:03:54

“When we speak of the artist as visionary we do not mean that they predict the future, rather that with the tool of imagination, they are able to draw futures beyond what many of us think possible. When we think of what the future might look like, most of us do this by relying on our past: what we know and what we have experienced. That means it’s restricted. Imagination helps us think of a future far beyond what we already know.”
https://www.rights-studio.org/journal/the-artist-as-visionary

2025-01-08 18:52:36

Wow, thank you to all of my new followers and special thanks to @nprofile…qlpm for the warm welcome to Mastodon. I built up over 50k followers on Instagram over the course of a decade and have become disgruntled that I can’t access those users due to the algorithm. I’m ready for the future of decentralized platforms. I hope more artists and craftspeople join us here. I also use #Cara.

2025-01-08 15:52:56

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@nprofile…qlpm Thanks so much, Ken! I’m very excited for the possibilities of the decentralized web and I appreciate the warm welcome.

2025-01-08 14:40:42

Some of my favorite pieces from the last batch of pottery I made before the end of the year. Some still available at http://www.potterybyosa.com
#pottery #ceramics #culture #africanart
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/793/157/073/430/794/original/bbf15af233f9c442.png
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2025-01-07 16:54:09

Rhythms of Clay: Celebrating Dr. MLK and teaching local youth the history of African ceramics. Sponsored by https://www.kaaboclay.org
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/788/085/525/001/616/original/d1414d32c4e7bfe4.png