Nathan Youngblood is well known for his deeply carved pottery and use of both traditional Santa Clara and other designs.  This jar is made in the shape of the classic “bean pot.”  The neck and base are both polished tan, while the center carved areas are polished red and the handles are matte. The red carved sections are a cloud design, and note a similar cloud pattern around the handles!  There is a band of lightning designs in tan below the red areas.  The deep red clay slip on this jar is exceptional and contrasts perfectly with the tan and matte areas.  While the shape, carving, and designing might seem like enough, Nathan also takes his pottery one step further. After it is fired, he uses small screwdrivers and scrapes the sides of the carved designs and the recessed areas, to create a visually striking contrast.  This style has been called, “the new Santa Clara polychrome,” although I usually called it “tri-color” with the variations of red, matte and buff areas. The jar was traditionally fired which creates some contrast in the tan areas.