Learn Corrugated Pottery From Master Potter John Olsen

Master Potter John Olsen has been making Anasazi replica pottery for longer than I have been alive. He is well known as the master of corrugated pottery. In this video he talks about how he became a potter and teaches how to make authentic Anasazi corrugated pottery from his home in Boulder, Utah.

John often teaches pottery with Kelly Magleby, her workshops are listed here

He usually teaches pottery at the following primitive skills gatherings.
Winter Count –
Rabbitstick –
Fire to Fire –

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42 thoughts on “Learn Corrugated Pottery From Master Potter John Olsen”

  1. Jeff Cooper

    This video came at a great time for me. Just about to try this method with native clay from the mimbres valley

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Excellent! If you ever want to share some Mimbres valley clay let me know. I would love to collect some of that.

    2. Jeff Cooper

      @Andy Ward’s Ancient Pottery I sure will Andy! I am just starting to explore the primitive side of pottery. Been throwing on a wheel for a few years. So as soon as I have confidence in my source collected I will let you know. BTW we have a great collection of mimbres pottery at the deming nm museum if you have never been here .

    3. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      @Jeff Cooper one of my favorite places. I would love to photograph some of those pots outside the case some day.

  2. Renewed Rewilder

    Great video – thank you! Were the styles that you replicate also made traditionally with thin coils?

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      It can be hard to say when the pottery is scraped smooth. But from my research I believe the coils used in my area were usually between a half inch to an inch in thickness. Corrugated pottery is fairly rare in my area of southeast Arizona.

  3. Outstanding, It is clear that John is an accomplished potter. Very nice editing and good camera work. I’ll now give it a try. Thanks.

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Thanks for noticing and commenting on the camera work. I have made 2 previous corrugated videos but they were shot from a tripod. In this one I shot handheld the whole time so I could get close and I think it works much better.

  4. Sharon K Miller

    Wow, Andy. This was amazing. His work is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing him with us.

  5. LAM_Cam

    That was fantastic thank you so much for taking the time to record and share!

  6. Marc Smelser

    This is an amazing video. I sure did not realize how much technique there was involved in making corrugated. Thank you Andy for the well put together video and thank you John for sharing your knowledge wit the rest of us!!!

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

  7. Brad Ellison

    Sitting in a comfortable chair under a shade tree with a cool beverage, birds chirping, grass swaying talking about your passion is the definition of success

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Ha, yes! John has truly made it now.

  8. Bonnie Doon Homestead

    OK, this is something I have never seen or heard of before. I love stumbling upon a video that expands the knowledge base and connects the dots. Bravo! Love to see a vid of this artist firing his work.

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Thank you so much. I will mention to John about doing a firing video.

  9. T&K Smith

    What a wonderful environment to work in. His technique was amazing to watch and it was so nice it hear of his early failings too.

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      So true! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

  10. Lynsey Eccles

    What a beautiful piece of pottery. I never would of guessed how these particular pots were made and it was most fascinating to watch you work. Thank you for sharing your video and technique’s xx

  11. tomas neel

    Hi guys! What a life. Totally made my day watching.
    I knew David Holliday in Tucson, he had a influence on my art as a teenager in school and the church we attended.
    Keep it up andy!

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Thanks you. David is an interesting guy, we met lots of great people in Boulder.

  12. Doktor Koka

    Thank you! Good balance between the story and the working process. I’ve watched it twice though, first to listen, and the second one to follow the process.
    <3

  13. Frances H

    Appreciate the respect shown for Indigenous art forms (well, art now, then as John realistically replicates, functional forms). Excellent video, and the pots look so therapeutic to make I imagine.

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Thank you, and yes, super-therapeutic.

  14. Dulce Shimkus

    I have been blessed to be able to spend time with John and learn from him! I love watching him work! John, you make it look so easy! You really are a master potter!

  15. Maryann Hunwick

    Oh thank you!! John is truly a one of a kind, and a fantastic person!! Much gratitude!

  16. Adam K.

    The cinematography on this video is 10/10. The video of the corrugation process is interspersed with video of the interview questions, and it all comes together so neatly. I’m going to recommend this video to my instructor.

  17. Elizabeth Bennett

    Just took a pottery class at a skills camp and he was my instructor! He’s really cool, patient, kind, and generous with his time and knowledge. He’s also hilarious. He’ll tell random dad jokes and puns throughout the lesson, causing the other instructors to groan and the students to laugh. I drove 8 hours to get to this skills camp, slept in my car because the nights were cold, but it was all worth it just to meet and learn from John.

    Thanks for the pottery, John! I will use it well!

    ~Mary

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      John is a great teacher.Thanks for sharing your experience.

  18. Nicole Bélanger

    Wow I would love to take a workshop from John. Your videos are great and so full of information. Really appreciate the time and effort you put into it.

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      Thank you. Yes John is a great teacher, he does teach a few workshops every year.

  19. Sitting up late watching this video again. I am just amazed at the prehistoric techniques. I love the way the pyramidal triangle shape is worked in. I can just imagine the feel of this in my hand during use. The texture would have made it great for handling. And that secret about the riveting the handle through the pot itself is genius. Not the way its taught today. I can’t wait to try this. I was just amazed when he mentioned that the wagon was slipping in the clay. It reminds me of this area I live in. After a rain you can barely walk out because the clay keeps sticks to your boots and as you get taller your feet get heavier. I think we have a lot of clay in our soil.

    1. Andy Ward's Ancient Pottery

      It sounds like you do have a lot of clay in your soil, it might work great for pottery. I’m glad you have enjoyed this video, John is an amazing guy.

  20. Ellen Sanford

    I really, really enjoyed this video. I’ll be giving this a go. I’ve heard of it, but never quite understood the process. Thank you so much to both of you for sharing!!

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