Armando Jimenez

As grandson of Manuel Hernandez, the originator of the famous carved "animalitos," Armando and his brother, Moises, carry on the family tradition. In the shadow of the ruins of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Armando "reads" the wood to determine what to create from it.  Hand-carving with a machete and a kitchen knife, his skill is amazing to watch.  Both he and his wife paint the animals when they are completely assembled and dried.  His work is sought by collectors, and he has shown his work throughout the U.S.