Robert taking a self portrait with his Brownie camera, circa 1951

"MY DRIVE TO CREATE EMERGED BEFORE MY PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND CONTINUES EVEN STRONGER TODAY."

Robert, circa 1966

A demo in Mendocino, 2016

ROBERT WEISS' BACKGROUND

"I have been involved in various forms of art all my life.  For me, my art is an expression of what I personally enjoy.  I got my first brownie camera when I was six and took pictures of everything. I still do today.  I began working in ceramics in 1964 in my first year of college." 

This was the beginning of the path that led Mr. Weiss to go from doing crafts fairs to opening a small studio in Los Angeles where he taught sculpture and ceramics.  This led Robert to a larger facility that eventually grew to be the largest handmade stoneware facility in the United States.  He employed almost 100 potters and artisans to assist in producing an extensive line of handmade pottery.  

"...THE RESULTS ARE WELL WORTH THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET A FINISHED PIECE."

Today, he still takes photos and works in his (much smaller) studio to produce hand thrown porcelain with crystalline glazes on them.  "The glazing process is long and arduous but the results are well worth the time it takes to get to a finished piece."

Robert studied at Otis Art Institute where he received a Bachelor’s degree and went on to get his Master’s degree in Fine Arts.  Mr. Weiss was awarded the coveted Elsie De Wolfe Fellowship, which is given to one outstanding design student in Los Angeles County.  Even so, Mr. Weiss presses "My formal education is not why I’m an artist…My drive to create emerged before my professional training and continues even stronger today."

For over forty years Mr. Weiss focused his art through various businesses he has owned and operated.  The success of those businesses have allowed him to give back to his community.  All profits from the sale of Robert's photography and ceramics are given to The Weiss Family Fine Arts Scholarship Fund.  Since 2003 the fund has awarded over 70 scholarships to graduating seniors at Healdsburg High School who go on to pursue fine arts in college.

Robert Weiss lives in Sonoma County, California and works out of his studio at his home.