Hand-Carved Cedar Wood Sculpture of an Eagle from Peru 'Courageous Meditator' Item ID: 2671697905

"I was born in Junin in 1964, and I've liked the arts for as long as I can remember. When I was a teen, I'd go to the parish church and help the nuns paint handkerchiefs and tablecloths with religious motifs and designs from nature. The nuns urged me to apply to the School of Fine Arts in the historical district of Lima. That's when my career as an artist began.

"I've always been aware of the need to protect the environment. I once visited the jungle of Puerto Maldonado with a friend. We walked up the mountainside to look for wood and left at 4 a.m. while it was still dark. This immense natural space was amazing, filled with vegetation, sounds and smells. I even saw a large iguana leap in the trees! From that moment on, I've been conscious of what I've been portraying for years, now — how wonderful Mother Nature is! It's vital that we send a message about taking care of our environment and the conservation of the marvelous creatures that inhabit it.

"I've seen the illegal logging, petroleum spills and trafficking of endangered species, and I began asking myself, 'What can I do as an artist?' This question has become my permanent inspiration, so I began researching about endangered animals. I began to study the forest from the different levels of habitat, beginning with the subsoil and reaching the very top of the mountain.

"Without a doubt, one of the toughest moments I've had to face was during the pandemic, when I had to do other kinds of work — from carpentry to home repairs to manual labor. But I'm grateful for this experience because it let me keep my workshop afloat and sell my art on social media. I was forced to get out of my comfort zone. And I've learned that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

"I'm proud of my four children who love art as much as I do, and they inspire me to continue creating stories. They help me get my ideas together and create a story for every animal sculpture I carve. In this way, we try to create personalities that connect with peoples' purest emotions. And we feel proud to raise consciousness through our art.

"I especially enjoy relating all my art with conservation, from the wood that is usually reclaimed from different carpenter shops in Iquitos, to the non-toxic paint that I use sparingly. My motivation is the love I feel for the Amazon region and for nature."