Robert Patricio

From pueblodirect.com website:

Patricio, Robert (Acoma)

Robert Patricio is a full blooded Native American Indian who was born into the Acoma Pueblo. He was given the Indian name of ¿Bear¿ when he was born on June 10, 1976. He learned the traditional methods of hand coiling pottery when he was eight years old by observing his friends and relatives work on their pottery while living in the Acoma Pueblo. His family members taught him the long lived traditional methods of constructing beautiful clay art using the ancient methods of his ancestors.

He specializes in traditional hand coiled and hand painted pottery. He gathers his clays, slips, and natural vegetation to begin constructing his masterpieces. Robert cleans his own clay for impurities, hand mixes with water and begins constructing pottery vessels from snake like coils. Robert sets his vessels out to dry and once dried he sands his pottery for a smooth finish so that he can begin hand painting his designs. While his pottery is waiting to dry he boils all the natural vegetation together and creates his natural colors from natural plants such as spinach plant and various flowers. The designs on his pottery are re-created from old ancient pottery sherds found within the Acoma Pueblo that his ancestors once painted hundreds of years ago. His designs include geometric, fertility, tularosa swirls, and kiva step patterns. When the painting is complete he finishes his masterpieces by firing his pottery outdoors, the traditional way that he was taught. He signs his pottery as: R. Patricio, Acoma, NM.

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies