Lois Gutierrez is one of the few Santa Clara potters who continues to create traditional polychrome pottery.  Each of the various colors is derived from natural clay slips.  They are then painted onto the vessel and note that there are more than 3 different clay colors, which makes it “polychrome”. This jar is a classic water jar shape with a low shoulder and a slightly turned out neck.  The neck of the jar is fully painted with two stylized hummingbirds and flowers.  Separating them are two old style birds which have rain cloud and lightning designs.  Below the shoulder are flowers.  The jar is traditionally fired, which adds to the complexity of the overall process!  Note on the bottom you can see a bit of color variation as a result of the heat of the firing!  The jar is signed on the bottom “Lois”.