Most modern pottery is decorated with glaze, a chemical and mineral mixture that liquefies in the extreme temperatures of the kiln. This process gives the beautiful glossy, smooth finish to the completed piece and comes in an ever growing number of colors. Some low-temperature glazes, such as those used on craft ceramics, create only color with a matte finish. But Native ancestors didn’t have access to glaze, so how did they create such beautiful, colorful designs on their pottery?
The answer is in an easy to make clay paint called slip. Clay naturally dissolves in water, which is used in refining the clay body. Slip is made by taking a portion of the clay and mixing just enough water to create a paint-like consistency. Next, a selection of minerals or local plant material is added to the slip; this is what creates the different colors. The slip, or clay based paint, is then painted on a piece of pottery that has not yet been fired. Because the paint is made of the same material as the clay of the pottery piece, it easily adheres to the walls of the work. After the slip dries, it can only be safely removed by gently scraping it off.