This is a classic old-style four-color painted water jar by Robert Patricio.  It is a classic Acoma water jar shape with a high shoulder and an elongated neck.  The design combines various traditional Acoma designs into one piece.  There are four red heartline deer encircling the jar.   This imagery is a classic to both Acoma and Zuni pottery, with the heartline signifying the center, spirit or, “heart” of the animal.  Next to each deer is a plant design and above them are cloud patterns.  All the fine-lines on the jar represent rain and the checkerboard squares separating the deer are the cornfields plants around Acoma.  The rim of the jar is a checkerboard pattern with rain designs.  The jar combines the elegant use of fine-lines with larger open spaces which moves the eye from one section to another.  The contrasting of the deep red deer and the orange-colored cornfields and clouds is subtle. 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 Robert next to the jar. 

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