A Tale of Two Ochres: Processing and Using Red Ochre For Pottery

I use red ochre to create authentic ancient replica pottery. In this video I will contrast two different sources of red ochre I recently collected, how to apply and use it to decorate pottery and how to process raw, natural ochre for use on pottery. Learn about this amazing natural pigment called earthy red hematite or "red ochre".
Collecting red ochres in the Sierra Anchas • Exploring Ancient Clif...
Collecting red ochre near the San Pedro River • Hunting for Red Ochre ...
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[@hegilliam]

Andy, have you ever considered buying a cheap ball mill (tumbler) from Harbor Freight, and use ceramic milling media to just powder everything all at one time. You can get -200-325 mesh particle sizes that way, and not have to do all that water mixing more than once. And you will get a consistent color per rock-batch. And the milling is all effortless. This is what we do to get fine particle sizes in the pyrotechnics industry.

[@yeshuas5172]

I like how you say "down in the doodlydoo" Makes me smile every time

[@AncientPottery]

I’m glad to be able to bring a little joy every time I say it.

[@SadhnaChoudhary-he9fq]

Superb ❤enjoyed watching

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for watching

[@andiarrohnds5163]

that ground ochre looks delectable, like paprika

[@GenAnderson-c5j]

After watching some of your videos I think I live in a pottery making gold mine!

[@AncientPottery]

That is awesome!

[@6bonjour]

This is so helpful, I keep coming back to your videos and find things I messed or forgot. Thanks

[@AncientPottery]

Glad to be of help.

[@andiarrohnds5163]

oh that red ochre bird pot has a brilliant color!

[@robsmith6961]

THANKS Andy really good information on all your video s. You are the man in native american pottery.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Rob

[@lindareese4579]

Thank you for sharing this with me and graces to you...

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@renewedrewilder830]

Would you be interested in receiving ochre samples from other regions? My area (Southern Oregon) has a lot of ochre clay that ranges from yellow to almost burgundy. I'd be happy to send you some, and to see how they work in the hands of a skilled craftsman.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for the offer but definitely not. I have lots of minerals and clay to sample and try from right here, I fear I would never get around to trying samples from elsewhere.

[@renewedrewilder830]

@@AncientPottery Gotcha! I figured that might be the case. :) Excellent video, as usual, by the way.

[@richardwithanarr]

room full of ceramic bowls and pots
gladware levigation
the juxtaposition 😙👌

[@AncientPottery]

Yeah but all my pots are porous earthenware, It is easier to do in a non-porous bowl.

[@gaetanproductions]

thanks for all this precious info, well presented

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you so much.

[@michellemooney1460]

Another awesome video!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Michelle!

[@bje2920]

This video helps me thank you

[@AncientPottery]

Glad to hear it.

[@Varaldar]

Do you think you could use a goldpan to help speed up the levigation?

[@6bonjour]

You have to put a lot of time into getting a final product but it really looks worth it.

[@AncientPottery]

It’s good stuff and worth the effort. Next time you come down bring your hiking boots and we will get some.

[@6bonjour]

@@AncientPottery That sounds good to me.

[@marthastrogen9001]

I made a red slip from red clay and red ochre and red clay, but I used more clay, about 2/3, and only 1/3 red ochre. I had to buy the red ochre and it was kind of expensive. It looks quite bright on the pot and I polished it on well while the pot was leather hard. I hope it stays bright red when it gets fired…. Now I have to decide whether to paint the design with white or black…..?

[@AncientPottery]

Sounds good so far, I hope it turns out good.

[@jacobhempel1855]

What kind of maintenance and upkeep do you need to do for your corn grinder? How long does it last?

[@AncientPottery]

You should watch this video where I answer those questions th-cam.com/video/7GKyK0cvzbY/w-d-xo.html

[@MissGroves]

I'm excited for warmer weather here so I can go and play in our local dirt which is so full of ochre. My area used to be known as an iron ore producer and all the fields are just red after being tilled

[@AncientPottery]

Sounds great.

[@6bonjour]

Can you explain the difference between ochres, earthy hematite, and hematite?

[@AncientPottery]

Hematite is iron oxide, it can be a variety of colors and hardnesses. Earthy hematite is hematite that is soft like soil or earth. Ochre is just another name for earthy hematite.

[@hegilliam]

Typically the earthy/soft stuff has further oxidized/weathered and has more H2O in it.

[@crowstudios300]

Andy we did field finds of something we refer to as Indian paint pots...do you know if that’s an ochre? We pulverized some and painted some pottery and I’m interested to see how it fires. The paint pot is red or yellow and soft enough to dig a groove with your thumb nail.

[@AncientPottery]

It sounds like ochre to me. I would be interested in hearing how it works after firing.

[@lemonlemonlemonlemonlemonlemo]

does this stuff stain the hands and is it hard to get off or easy?

[@mihailvormittag6211]

👍

[@Jog_l]

I think my hematite doesn't have a high enugh clay content.
It allways gets washed of!
I tryed with adding 20-30% clay, but ther was no difference.
Is there a possibility that the Hematite particles are to big?
Should I try mixing Clay and Hematite and then levigate it?

[@AncientPottery]

Sounds weird, 30% clay and still comes right off? Maybe try more. I always levigate my clay before I use it for paint, I also levigate the hematite before use. But I suppose you could do it differently by mixing them and then levigating, although I suspect that may throw off your ratio.

[@Jog_l]

@@AncientPottery Ok Thanks

[@ryoungblood6308]

Can this be used on skin?

[@jojacobs305]

How do you know that the ochre / clay does not have pesticides or other nasties in the clay? Do you have to go remote to collect? Ps loving your lessons and vlogs so much information in lil snippets 😁

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, I am glad you are enjoying my content. Here is Arizona there is a lot of wilderness, most of my materials are collected far from agriculture and industry that could contaminate it.

[@thomasolson7447]

I'm kind of glad you moved away from the music and artsy video editing stuff. If I wasn't so interested in this topic, I would probably have closed this window. It's annoying.

[@AncientPottery]

Well different strokes for different folks. You know what my mama taught me, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”.

[@thomasolson7447]

@@AncientPottery don't be like that. I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings. I'm just telling you that you put a lot of time and effort into this video, and it did nothing to improve the end product. When you don't do that fancy editing, it's a better product. Just do the experiments, show the results, and you'll make us all happy. Imagine if Gilbert Strang started putting background music in his lessons.

[@ichymcgee2315]

your stealing dirt if your not getting it from your own land.

[@AncientPottery]

Gee I hope the dirt police don’t catch me.

[@nokumira]

@@AncientPottery 😂😂😍😍