Christopher Youngblood creates intricately carved vessels that reflect a perfect balance of matte and polished surfaces with intricately carved designs.  This piece is part of a series entitled “Reflections”, which draws inspiration from the painted pottery of Sarafina Tafoya. Chris made, carved, and polished this jar.  It is deeply carved with a striking cloud and lightning design.  Each cloud is a series of six interlocking designs, and each is stone-polished.  Note how the clouds are rounded out, making them look “puffy” in appearance!  Extending up from the clouds are lightning designs.  The lightning bolts are slipped with mica.  The remainder is matte.  The lid was made, carved, and polished by Nancy Youngblood. The lid is a “raindrop,” and it is oval in shape and fully polished. The “splash” of the drop is carved into the top of the lid.  The piece was inspired by the many rainclouds used in the painted pottery of Sarafina Tafoya (see last 2 photos).  Both the lid and bowl were traditionally fired to a spectacular red coloration.   It is signed on the bottom, ‘Chris Youngblood”. Chris has won “Best of Pottery” at Santa Fe Indian Market and “Best of Pottery” at Gallup Ceremonials.  He was featured in the book Spoken Through Clay and continues to be one of the leading young potters working today.