Oaxaca Painting Styles from Different Wood Carving Villages

Painting Techniques by Village

Methods of painting Oaxacan carvings are uniquely localized to the particular village they originate. Some villages originally had reputations for being weavers while others were potters. As this art form evolved these carvers incorporated geometric rug patterns and mosaic floral designs into their work.

ARRAZOLA

A great diversity in method can be seen in this village. Manuel Jimenez set the art in motion by producing pieces with uniform circles or lines. The Morales family added multi color outlines and much finer dot and line work. The Ramirez pulled from their Zapotec heritage and adorned their forms with geometric patterns. Castellanos developed a pattern in motion for their lizards. Cortez went the other way and created a soft look using colors for tinting and accents.

San Martin

The clay and corn culture of San Martin goes all the way back to days when this village paid tribute with food and beverage to the builders of Zapotec temples. A place very much tied to nature paints a tapestry of birds, insects flowers on figurines as seen by the Angeles, Ojeda, and Ortega families. Superstition and the After Life inspire and fuel the creative energy of Cruz, Xuana, Fabian, and Sosa.

San Pedro Cajonos

High up in remote pine covered mountains the Blas family paints in a wash of rainbow hues. Amazing micro fine color play in pointillism fashion. Detail is often added with cactus quills dipped in inks and dyes. The meticulous detail and artistry add infinite dimension to creatures that sing "Carlos Castaneda".

La Union

Far far away from the other villages is a window into the past. Artists in La Union draw their talents from an ancient form of toy making. Some prefer using vegetable and aniline dyes not used by other villages since the 60's for a deep feel that fades gracefully over time. Most share a sort of rustic finesse that gives presence and personality. These qualities are best seen in the work of the Santos, Perez and Santiago families.

Ocotlan

Ancient cultural hub of many artisan products ranging from ceramics to cutlery. This southbound village is primarily known for it's red ceramics but also has a community of painted wood artists. Designs in painting are often centered around pointillism and floral abstractionism.

San Pedro Taviche

Long time supplier of copal wood to other carving villages this village also supports it's own unique network of artists who paint in a bright woven geometric style.

Elsewhere

Individual artists are randomly found throughout the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Villages or towns that have but one or two artists who carve for a time then fade away. Some approach the art form with natural realism while others develop an entirely new style.

| Oaxacanwoodcarving.com Main |