Pottery is made from local clays gathered from below the mesas. The clay is processed to remove debris and other impurities before it is hand-molded into the desired shape. After a drying period of approximately one to two weeks the pot is sanded, polished and painted. Designs vary from one artist to the other although most potters use traditional Hopi symbolism. Common designs include eagles, parrots, roadrunners, migration patterns, pueblo style villages, rain and clouds, lightning, waves and other life germinating symbols such as corn.
Most potters use natural paints rendered from local vegetation, and paint with yucca brushes.
Firing is done outdoors using using dried sheep manure for fuel and is the most critical part in the pottery making process. Potters do not use thermometers to gauge the temperatures of their fires - it takes experience and skill to produce a perfectly fired pot. Some Hopi pottery is ceremonial in nature and not intended for public purchase. You will not find this kind of pottery for sale in reputable galleries and shops. Most prehistoric pottery has been taken from archaeological and burial sites, and Hopi people find non-Hopi ownership of these pots offensive.