paintings

The magic of Pisac and Peru's sacred Urubamba valley inspire Rolando and Luis with ancient art and icons. They work in ceramic to create this handsome vase, painting the geometric motifs freehand on the surface. It reveals an aged, antique finish.

The unique iconography of the Inca tells of when to sow, when to harvest and when to shear the alpaca and llama. Known as tocapu, this pictorial alphabet comes from the Sacred Valley of the Inca Empire, which goes from Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, parallel to Vilcanota or Wilcamayu River, in Cuzco. Rolando and Luis paint this inspired ceramic vase by hand.

The striking red background and contrasting colors that decorate this vase give it a unique visual appeal. In the distance, the eye picks up faint silhouettes of majestic mountains, and at the front of the picture, there is a modest home. Breaking the layers is a lush tropical green forest, punctuated by tall, yellow stalks. This is a beautiful piece by Francisco Guerreros.

The spectacular painting adorning this vase depicts a common scene in the streets of ancient Cuzco - a llama and a highlander wandering down a narrow lane. Francisco Guerreros demonstrates fine ceramic work in a piece he names "The Streets of Cuzco." Inspired by the sights of his people and the Andean culture, he creates this work using contrasting colors and vibrant geometric shapes.

The radiance of the solar star inspires the Huaman Paucar Family to design their own version of the Intihuatana stone. Meaning "Hitching Post of the Sun," it is found at Machu Picchu's highest point. Some believe the Inca carved several of these stone outcrops to connect earth and sky; other's believe it was a way of tying Father Sun to his Inca children. The Huaman Paucar Family honor this legendary emblem of Inca spiritualism with a handcrafted ceramic plate, which they paint with intricate detail.