This is a wide shoulder water jar by Robert Patricio.  It is a classic Acoma water jar shape with a wide shoulder and a short neck.  There is just the slightest indention at the end of the neck as the shoulder rises and the rounds down to the base.  The jar is painted with a variety of old-style Acoma clouds. They are highlighted in red and orange clay slips.  Connecting them are fine-line rainbirds and plant designs.  Around the base of the jar are additional cloud patterns. Overall there are at least four different types of cloud patterns on this jar!  The jar is made from traditional Acoma clay and then painted with bee-weed (black) and two different red clay slips. The base is painted with red clay.  It is signed on the bottom, “R.  M.  Patricio”.  The jar is an exciting extension of his artistry in clay and continuing the amazing Acoma legacy.  The last photo is of the jar before it was fired. 

Robert said recently of his pottery:

““The pottery inspires me to keep going.  Keeping the tradition alive in making pottery, that’s how we were brought up.  Our ancestors started making pottery.  It’s amazing what comes of a piece of clay. When you come to Acoma it’s peacuful and quite.  When you look a piece of pottery, you see the same peacefulness.”   Robert Patricio, 2020