Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Bob Lansing | Episode 418
Bob Lansing is a contemporary traditional potter of the Dinē Nation. Bob’s pottery is thrown on the wheel and then coated with layers of colored slip. Each piece is etched with Bob’s designs that help express traditional stories with a contemporary flare.
SPONSORS
Today’s Business of Clay Workshop at Clay by the Bay– This is the workshop I am teaching in San Francisco
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
Do you use commercial clay or do you harvest your clay
I work with commercial grade clay. And also I work with traditional when I am asked to do it. It takes a little bit longer to do because you have to go find the clay, you have to sift it over and over, until you get your finest. It takes a lot of time. Commercial you can decorate it and that is why I don’t label my pieces as traditional because it is not traditional. The only thing traditional is the design.
How do you fire your work?
I learned how to do a pit fire but then again if you want to have food on the table. You have to have a lot of patience when you do it that way. But for me if I want all my hard work to come out equal firing, I use a kiln. That way my art work will come out pretty rather than the other way. You have to have years of experience to do the traditional firing.
How do you come to a design? Do you look a piece and already know what you want to do or do you let it reveal itself as you work?
I start one and I just create. I don’t plan. I don’t have a sketch board. When I start, I start. Sometimes I start with an animal and then I go from there. Because a lot of times you plan something the way you want it to go and then something goes wrong and then you get bummed out. But if you just go with what comes to mind then you create something good.
How has Instagram been helpful for you?
Well pretty much my son takes care of that. I get in trouble if I go…even my wife is on me about Facebook, Put that away, you need to work. I am always curious what other artists are posting. On my Facebook I have a lot of Native American artists that show their work, but I don’t do it because I had a website before and it is how these other artists started my style of work. It would have been nice if they would have come to me and say, You know, I want to learn your technique. I want to learn how to do your work. Instead they just take it and that hurts in a way.
How do you protect your work from being copied?
Well I did have a copyright at one time. I spent a lot of money on an attorney and a gentleman started copying my work. Just off the magazines and off my website. I talked to my attorney and my attorney called him and his attorney called my attorney back and said, My client is not copying your client 100 percent. It could be the same 3/4 of the way, if 1/4 of it is different that is not copying the whole thing. That is kind of a strange way. You spend all that money on copyright and they still take it.
You said it hurts you when people copy your work. Would you be willing to teach someone who approached you and asked you?
Oh yeah. First thing I will ask them. Do you have patience? That’s what it takes. My nephew came to me and I taught him. My best friend came to me and I taught him. My sister, I taught her. My nephew does not have patience and makes 15 carved pieces in one day. It is sloppy. You need to slow down to make quality. Yeah, I can teach anybody. My son and I were talking about starting workshops so people can come to the reservation and see all the traditional ways of life.
What does a day in your life as an artist look like?
My day as an artist is, I get up, get ready, love your family first. That is what inspires you to do something good with your art. I kiss my daughter goodbye before she goes to school. By the end of the day my eyes are tired. My day as an artist, you have to be focused on what you want to do. You can’t have something bad on your mind because your lines don’t come out right and then your designs don’t come out right and that is what brings you down. I don’t really take orders and I sell what is on my table. It pretty much sells itself. People come to Four Corners and they never thought they would buy anything but they will walk by my booth. My set up is really nice and they will come back and say, This is what caught my eye. I will tell them it is very expensive and they will say, That’s why I like it. So they end up buying it.
Contact:
Instagram: @boblansingpottery