My husband and I are retiring to Boquete this year from Oklahoma, USA. I am a potter who likes to use natural clay straight from the ground - Oklahoma is full of clay, but will use purchased clay if I have to :)
My question is... does the Boquete area have clay in it's soil? Gardeners, when digging in your gardens or planting trees do you find clay to be an issue? Or, is there somewhere within a few hours distance where clay can be purchased for potters? I am a creative soul and wonder what I will be doing with my hands once in Boquete.
Julie
thepatientpotter.com
Replies
Good morning Julie!
I'm just reading these posts today, having started my own research on accessing pottery supplies in Chiriqui, time has passed since your post but I'm wondering if you had any success with your move and your pottery here? Wondering if you have any updates on sourcing clay if you managed to settle here? My husband and I live in David for now, looking to move up near Boquete next year, and plans are already in place for my own little pottery workshop, it's been years since I studied ceramics at college but I'm still dreaming of my own little spot to work the clay and rediscover the joy... 😊
I'd love to hear back from you if you're still around these parts or have any helpful suggestions on accessing supplies?
kind regards,
Julia
23 years is a long time. Would love to see some of your work. I prefer doing handbuilding, burnishing, carving and sculpting over wheel work. My wheel work is usually vases that fit well in my hands. I can then carve whatever design pops into my head and burnish to my heart's content. My pieces usually aren't much bigger than 8-12". I'm not a glaze nut either. Preferring to let the natural clay stand out. I will enhance the natural clay with some glaze or stain work but I really like it when the clay takes center stage. I started in porcelain with molds and china paint, then moved into thrown stoneware functional ware, and finally transistioned into using natural clay and commission work. Been doing clay for about 13 years now. Still love it.
Namaste,
Annie O'
Thank you Annie. We'll meet up I'm sure.
Hi Julie,
I retired here planning to do a lot of potting, brought all my equipment including a top hat gas kiln, then got too sick to continue. I befriended a native potter who made precolumbian reproductions, and know that he went all the way to the Darien, at the other end of Panama, to buy his clay. I subsequently tried to get clay in Chitre without success. I'm afraid I don't know anything about local clays; there isn't any where I live in boquete.
Please call me at 6949-9754 when you're ready to get going, as I may have some items you can use. I never found another potter in all the 10 years I've lived here, so would love to watch you work.
Herta
Thanks Herta! I will surely give you a call. We hope to be living in Boquete by July of this year. I'm looking forward to meeting you and would be very interested in any items you may have. If there is clay in Boquete, I will find it ;)
Here is a link to some of the clay work facilitated by our amazing art therapist Octavio Alveraz. He purchases the clay for his sessions from around Chitre. He would be a good resource, plus kindred spirit.
Clay Healing Work in Boquete
Very cool. Working with clay is very therapeutic. It's a great way to find inner peace.
The whole of this area especially Caldera and Potrerillos is clay.
This is so exciting! Now I really can't wait to get there :)
Here is a link to a feature they did on my clay for a local television show about 8 years ago. I have a full head of gray hair now lol. But it shows the process of digging my clay and making pottery from it. Anybody can do this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTdgI2wP6rQ
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