These imaginatively painted wood carvings are created by artists in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Many are descendants of the Zapotec and Mixtec Indian tribes, from the villages of Arrazola and San Martin Tilcajete, in the mountainous Oaxacan Valley.
          Some of the artists complete all of the work themselves, but many use a system that involves several members of the family unit. For example, the man of the family will block out the rough form, first with a machete, then with a knife. After this, the carving is assigned to one of the sons in the family, or perhaps an elder, to be sanded. Next, the colorful painting is done by the wife or the husband and wife together. The carving is often signed with the man's signature, even if his wife completed most of the work. This is a tradition, and there is no resentment in this regard.
          The wood used by the Oaxacan artists is copal. It is very white when carved, with a perfect surface for the many colors of paint used by the artisans. Plus, the wood is easily carved and tends not to split. Also, the sap of the wood, which is very aromatic, is used as incense, and burned on traditional Mexican holidays such as "Dia de los Muertos" ("Day of the Dead").