Pottery by Osa
@potterybyosa@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp last week

I made my first #facejug in 2019. I made a few at the time, left it for a while and now I’m returning to the idea. I have no training in sculpture so I feel like a beginner all over again when I make these. One thing that gives me courage to attempt them is that original face jugs from the US South are raw, folky and imperfect. But I’m also drawing inspiration from the Ife terracotta heads from #Nigeria which are incredibly skillful and naturalistic. Mine fall somewhere in between. #pottery

A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.
A ceramic face jug on a plain, olive green background. The jug is painted with terra sigillata made with clay from Tennessee. It is a rich, reddish brown color with a semi-matte, slightly satin sheen. The features of the face are smooth and calm. There are tribal marks—three lines in the middle of the forehead, one long line on each cheek and one short line in the middle of the chin. The top of the head is carved with fine lines mimicking a hairstyle. The neck of the vessel is textured with geometric patterning and concentric rings. A handle comes out of the top of the neck and attaches to the top of the head of the vessel. There is a historical feel to the piece.