Make a Pinch Pot

Pinch Pot:

Native American tribes each have their own traditions and art-making processes, but one thing that many Native groups share in common is their use of pottery. These examples from the Briscoe’s collection come from Acoma, Isleta, and Pojoaque Pueblos in New Mexico.

What is similar about these pots? What is different? What do you think each one is used for?

Materials Needed:

Air Dry Clay

Acrylic Paint

Paintbrush

Paper towel

Step 1: Roll the air-dry clay into a ball.

Step 2: Next, use your thumb to poke a hole into the top of this ball. Be sure that the hole does not go through to the other side.

Step 3: Use a pinching technique with your thumbs inside the opening and fingers on the outside, to pull the clay into the shape you want.

Step 4: Allow the clay to dry overnight.

Step 5: Once it is dry, use paint to decorate your pinch pot.

Step 6: When the paint is dry, you can use your pinch pot to store small objects, or as a decorative vessel.