Nicolas Morales: Little Hen WoodcarvingLovely little hen by Oaxacan woodcarving artist Nicolas Morales. The gallinita is perfectly painted. Nicolas Morales carves her round as a loaf and paints her to the last feather, dividing the body into a dozen small areas, each finished in its own pattern. The back glows in an orange labyrinth of curling lines; the wings carry stacked bands of zigzag and Greek key in clean ochre and red, the belly opens into a green flower lattice, and the tail rises

This fantastic frog by Carolina Sandoval is pure fun

Antonio gives him the soft terracotta skin of a real ajolote

and lines that echo pre-Hispanic motifs

The floral motifs echo traditional northern Mexican plant forms

striped cleanly

He is considered the master creator of lizards

while the lavender and fuchsia chest feathers create a soft frame around the bright orange beak

eyes cast slightly downward

painted a warm salmon pink

the happiest animal on earth

This exquisite Oaxacan jaguar by artist Luis Cruz is carved in a low

This stunning little owl woodcarving is a masterful work by Oaxacan artist Pedro Carreño