More results...
Style
Media
Heritage
Gender
Maria Martinez was a Native American potter from the Pueblo of San Ildefonso in New Mexico. She is widely considered to be one of the greatest traditional Native American potters of the 20th century. Maria learned the art of pottery making from her mother, who was also a skilled potter. She was known for her unique style of black-on-black pottery, which involved coating the pottery with a glossy, black slip and then burnishing it to a smooth finish. She worked with her husband, Julian Martinez, to perfect this technique and their work was widely celebrated.
Maria became a respected leader in the Native American art community and her work has been widely exhibited and collected by museums and institutions around the world. Today, she is remembered as an important figure in the preservation of traditional Native American art forms.
The history and culture of the Southwest Pueblo Native Americans is integrated with the introduction of master potter, Maria Martinez. The steps in making pottery are explored in preparation for the students to shape and decorate their own pottery. Be sure to click through the student masterpieces at the top of this page.
I am always amazed when I see a child who does not think they are an artist, create a piece of art that puts a smile on their face. It is so important to help all the students explore their creative sides.
Thinking creatively will help our children in their future careers, to problem solve and be innovative, no matter what that career may be.
Meet the Masters is a wonderful program that exposes the children to so many amazing mediums and artistic styles. The step by step instruction creates a comfortable environment for all children to excel and explore their creative side.
Buy a track of 7 artists and teach all year long.
*Art supplies and teacher/volunteer training DVDs can be added to your order.
Long before “black-on-black” became a recognized technique, Maria Martinez and her husband, Julian, were figuring it out at San Ildefonso Pueblo. Maria Martinez art style comes from that discovery — coating pottery in a glossy black slip, then burnishing it to a smooth finish, a method that made her one of the century’s most celebrated Native American potters.
In Meet the Masters, the brushes are replaced with clay as kids sculpt and design their pots using Native American designs after studying Pueblo culture. Students pick up terms like symmetry, balance, and texture as they work.
FAQ
Black-on-black pottery, made using a glossy slip and a burnishing technique.
It connects the pottery project to Pueblo history and cultural tradition, not just the technique itself.
Students use clay and watercolor brushes to shape and decorate their own pottery.
