Oaxacan Wood Carving Julia Fuentes Owl Bird Oaxaca Mexican Folk Art Alebrije For Sale

ADORABLE OWLOAXACA WOOD CARVING
BY THE HIGHLY TALENTED MASTER ARTISTS JUIAN FUENTES AND JOSE JUAN MELCHOR
WONDERFUL WORK IN A HAND CARVED PIECE! FINE PAINTING AND TRADEMARK SHADING TECHNIQUES! WHIMSY AND JOY AS WELL! EVERYTHING WE LOVE IN MEXICAN FOLK ART!!A nice example of the more afordable work of the very talented Julia Fuentes and her husband Jose Juan. Julia is part of the world-renowned Fuentes Family, including Epifanio Fuentes, Zeny Fuentes and Efrain Fuentes. Julia Fuentes actually used to do the painting on her brother Zeny's pieces, until branching out on her own this past July. In my opinion however, Julia has surpassed her brothers in her talent in the painting of these wood carvings. Considering that she actually studied art at Bellas Artes... a famous institution in Mexico City! Wow! We were amazed at the beauty of her pieces when we first saw them and are so excited to be able to share them with the world. The shading technique that she uses in her artistry is just amazing. One of the most incredible aspects of her work is that she has managed to elevate the art form to more of a fine art approach, while maintaining the beautiful whimsy that one finds in Mexican Folk Art. You can definitely see the trademark style of her family in her work still, and it is fantastic seeing another family member keeping these traditions alive.
This adorable owl is an affordable way to access the gorgeous work of Julia Fuentes! We just love the awesome features of this carving... the mixture of the gorgeous jewel tones on a black background, the deep-set carved in eyes, the raised and carved beak, and the egg shape of the carving ... this one has great features at a wonderful price! The painting is finely detailed, and the intricate shading of colors alone features an incredible amount of precise line work. Simply regal! Being from truly talented and highly collected artists, this owl will make a beautiful addition to your collection! It is a great starting place to add a wonderful quality piece from Julia Fuentes, or a fun addition to an existing collection of her pieces. There are no removable parts. The piece has been signed by both Jose Juan and Julia... a truly delightful young couple!
Approximate Measurements: 3 5/8" high x 2 3/4" wide x 2 3/8" deep
Oaxacan wood carvings start out traditionally with a piece of Copal wood, either a piece of the trunk, or one of the magnificent branches of the tree. The Copal wood is a soft wood that is similar to a balsa wood, but the Copal is indigenous to Southern Mexico. After the animal wood carvings from Oaxaca became extremely popular, the Mexican government stepped in to control the supply of the wood, and even created a biosphere to preserve the species. Artists are no longer able to cut trees down though and must pay increasingly higher prices to obtain a supply of this wood from authorized dealers who maintain a cap on the supply. Currently many artists recognize the importance of preserving these trees and have communal programs in the villages to replant the Copal, since the tree actually takes about 25 years to mature. The Copal tree takes on a cultural and religious significance in the community as well, since the sap of the tree is used for making incense that is often valued for its ceremonial usage. The figures are first carved while the wood is green, and the artist is able to carve out fantastic details since the wood is so soft. Other wood can be used, so at times you will find cedar or pine, but Copal is the most commonly used wood. The rough outline is done with a large machete, and the positioning of the figure is often determined by the shape of the piece of wood that is sourced. A carver can take a look at the piece of wood and envision just what kind of animal they will be able to carve, and how to position it. Further refinements to the carving are done using gradually smaller rustic knives, usually fashioned locally from whatever is available. After the figure is carved, it is sanded smooth and left to dry. The drying process can take several months if it is a large piece. While it is drying, the wood will often crack, and then the artist will fill these cracks using wood chips and filler, before again having to sand the figure down. the most valuable carvings are often one-piece carvings, carved out of a single piece of wood, but you will often find removable parts like tails and ears, that make transporting these a little easier. A sense of motion in the piece is another sign of quality, as it is also a measure of the degree in difficulty achieved in the particular piece. Twisted bodies, turned heads, raised legs, curved bodies and tails are all indications that an extra amount of work went into the piece of art. Many of the older pieces were painted with natural analine or coal-based dyes, but these often faded over time, so most artists switched many years ago to acrylic paint. With the acrylics, more cheerful colors can be achieved, and the paint is more long lasting. We love the sense of color in these cheerful carvings! Oaxacan wood carvings became commonly referred to as Alebrijes, especially after a popular movie came out, but the term alebrije actually is attributed to the Linares Family who create fantastical paper maiche figures in Mexico City. The term was widely used in Oaxaca after a joint exhibition that was done where both Pedro Linares of Mexico City and Manuel Jimenez of Oaxaca were present. Manuel Jimenez became the driving force behind Oaxacan wood carvings and is said to have been influenced by the colors that he saw in the work of Pedro Linares. But the actual term "Alebrije" is actually said to have come to Pedro Linares in a dream about fantasy creatures. There is much debate currently in Mexico about the use of this terminology, and who should have the right to use it. As a result, in Oaxaca, you will also see the terms Tonas and Nahuales, which refer to spirit animals and mystical creatures that take on both human and animal forms. Another term used is Tallas de Madera, or simply wood carvings from Oaxaca. Popular culture, however, has made it more difficult for the artists not to use the term Alebrije when referring to their carved figures, since more and more people have become accustomed to the terminology. It will be quite interesting to see how this plays out in the future.