Vicki in Sri Lanka Ceramics Studio

On Sri Lanka's busy streets, colorful wardrobes abound.

And the vibrant hues are matched by traditional ceramic ware.

Handmade ceramic urns, masterly carved.

Outside of the capital, Colombo, nestled behind this Biyagama junction, 
resides an active community of traditional potters. 

A potter trims and refines a tall urn he made on the potter's wheel.

Carving a traditional design into the clay urn.

Individual urns dry before being fired. 

An unfired carved ceramic urn. 

The ancient traditional ceramic forms continue to be taught at the village's training center,

housed under the tropical foliage.

Here I was fortunate to teach Sri Lankans who share my passion for clay, 

and are eager to learn new techniques from a guest. 

They were filled with questions, receptive and appreciative of my stay with them.

All of the countless potters in the village were keen to share their techniques with me, 
and made me feel at home from the first moment I arrived. 

The village has been the site of clay production for hundreds of years, 
with one generation passing down skills to younger members.

A local red stone called Guru, is ground, mixed with clay,  and applied to unfired pieces.

The brushed on Guru, is often carved into when dry to the touch,  
to create traditional design signatures of the red-hued Biyagama ceramics. 

Dry work is fired, generally in outdoor, wood-fueled kilns.

These unglazed, fired pieces are works of art and utility, sold throughout the country, 
and always identified as Biyagama traditional pottery.