Tina Diaz has skillfully created her own unique style of carving pottery.  She is one of only a handful of Santa Clara potters who has mastered the technique of polishing her pottery tan.  The tan is the natural color of the clay and the most difficult to polish to achieve a high shine.  This red and tan jar is fully carved with a rain swirl design on one side polished tan. There is a stylized bird next in tan with a red lightning pattern.  Next is a cloud with rain and plant designs near the base.  Finally, there is a red polished lightning pattern as the design returns to the tan rain swirls.  This jar is very intricately carved with elaborate designs for the body of the piece.  Note the various sections which create swirls and various angles for the design.   It is always technically difficult to carve such sharp angles and delicate edges into the clay.  The background has the traditional cream-colored slip, which few potters use today because it is difficult to apply.  The jar is signed in the bottom in the clay, “Tina Diaz”.  She slipped over the signature with the red clay slip, making it a bit difficult to read.