colorful sculpture

Mauricio Morales crafts a small ceramic bird figurine that features exquisite hand painted detailing. "The process for making these small animals was something I learned when I was small...since then it has become a passion of mine," says the Guatemalan artisan, adding that the bird sculpture is made for, "...all of those who love birds." He starts by mixing the clay and carefully shaping the figure, and then he adds aluminum legs and feet. After the bird is fired, he sands it, mixes his own colors, and paints the figurine. The result is a charming and precise depiction of a robin complete with brownish-grey plumage, black head, and orange breast.

Mauricio Morales crafts a small ceramic bird figurine that features exquisite hand painted detailing. "The process for making these small animals was something I learned when I was small...since then it has become a passion of mine," says the Guatemalan artisan, adding that the bird sculpture is made for, "...all of those who love birds." He starts by mixing the clay and carefully shaping the figure, and then he adds aluminum legs and feet. After the bird is fired, he sands it, mixes his own colors and paints the figurine. The result is a charming, painstaking rendering of a red-tailed hawk, complete with curved beak, mottled breast, and red tail feathers.

A grand parliament of owls bring the spirit of their native Guatemala to the home environment, each with its own disposition and expression. Master ceramics artisan Jose Arriola crafts this family of owls, at his workshop in Antigua Guatemala, where his family has been producing artisanal products for more than 100 years. Jose creates these owls with the ancient wood-fired terracotta process over the course of days. First, Jose forms each owl in a mold, then heats the clay in a 1300-degree kiln and applies a glazed finish before painting each owl by hand.

Mauricio Morales crafts a small ceramic bird figurine that features exquisite hand painted detailing. "The process for making these small animals was something I learned when I was small...since then it has become a passion of mine," says the Guatemalan artisan, adding that the bird sculpture is made for, "...all of those who love birds." He starts by mixing the clay and carefully shaping the figure, and then he adds aluminum legs and feet. After the bird is fired, he sands it, mixes his own colors, and paints the figurine. The result is a charming and precise depiction of a eastern bluebird complete with a rust-colored breast and throat and vivid blue shading on the wings, tail, and head.

This ceramic figurine of the king penguin looks up from a rest from his waddles. Guatemalan artisan Mauricio Morales hand sculpts and hand paints this lovely bird with meticulous detail to capture the species likeness.