Ortiz, Janice – Small West Directional Figure

Janice Ortiz is a sister of noted potter Virgil Ortiz.  She has created a series of traditional-style figures that are based on the four directions (North, South, East, and West).  Each of the directions is meant to be a specific color.  This figure represents “West,” as the traditional color is blue  The figure is slipped white and painted with black. The black is as close as it comes to “blue”.   There is an additional tab added after firing to the head. The figure is painted with white clay slip along with wild spinach (black) and red clay slips.  The figure is coil-built and traditionally fired.  The piece is signed on the bottom, “M. J. Ortiz”.