Oaxacan Wood Carving Whale Marine Life Sealife Alebrije by Hedilberto Olivera Mexican Folk offers Art Oaxaca Mexico Woodcarving

We love a great marine life carving! And this whale is both adorable and detailed, yet it is done at an accessible price point. So cute, yet full of wonderful detail! The artists are Jose Olivera and his wife Lucia of San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca. Hedilberto is a second-generation carver, having initially learned the art of carving at a very young age from his father, Leonardo Olivera Roque. Hedilberto further refined his skills at carving from his two brothers Jose and Raymundo Olivera. Hedilberto is responsible for the carving of his pieces, and his wife Lucia paints each figure in her signature detailed style. It is fun to note that this wonderful couple is teaching their own children to carry on these traditions. Children often begin learning this art form with the sanding, polishing and drying of the wooden figures. As they dry, the wood often cracks and opens. The artists then fill in the cracks with wood chips and sawdust, before again sanding the piece.

It is rare to see such a sense of movement and detail in offers the carving of an economical piece. This attention to detail provides a signature look to Hedilberto and Lucia's pieces, that stands out in a crowd. We really appreciate it when you can instantly recognize an artist's work when compared to all of the others out there. It is a sign of a true artist! I love the sweeping upright curvature of the tail. It really reminds me of seeing whales playing in the ocean in real life! But first you have to get past the adorable beauty of that face! Those eyes and those extra-long eye lashes! So much fun! I love Lucia's use of the color! So fantastic! Only the side fins are removable, and the piece is signed by the artist.

Approximate Measurements: 2 7/8" high x 4 3/4" wide x 4" deep


Oaxacan wood carvings start out traditionally with a piece of Copal wood, either a piece of the trunk, or one of the magnificent branches of the tree. The Copal wood is a soft wood that is similar to a balsa wood, but the Copal is indigenous to Southern Mexico. After the animal wood carvings from Oaxaca became extremely popular, the Mexican government stepped in to control the supply of the wood, and even created a biosphere to preserve the species. Artists are no longer able to cut trees down though and must pay increasingly higher prices to obtain a supply of this wood from authorized dealers who maintain a cap on the supply. Currently many artists recognize the importance of preserving these trees and have communal programs in the villages to replant the Copal, since the tree actually takes about 25 years to mature. The Copal tree takes on a cultural and religious significance in the community as well, since the sap of the tree is used for making incense that is often valued for its ceremonial usage. The figures are first carved while the wood is green, and the artist is able to carve out fantastic details since the wood is so soft. Other wood can be used, so at times you will find cedar or pine, but Copal is the most commonly used wood. The rough outline is done with a large machete, and the positioning of the figure is often determined by the shape of the piece of wood that is sourced. A carver can take a look at the piece of wood and envision just what kind of animal they will be able to carve, and how to position it. Further refinements to the carving are done using gradually smaller rustic knives, usually fashioned locally from whatever is available. After the figure is carved, it is sanded smooth and left to dry. The drying process can take several months if it is a large piece. While it is drying, the wood will often crack, and then the artist will fill these cracks using wood chips and filler, before again having to sand the figure down. the most valuable carvings are often one-piece carvings, carved out of a single piece of wood, but you will often find removable parts like tails and ears, that make transporting these a little easier. A sense of motion in the piece is another sign of quality, as it is also a measure of the degree in difficulty achieved in the particular piece. Twisted bodies, turned heads, raised legs, curved bodies and tails are all indications that an extra amount of work went into the piece of art. Many of the older pieces were painted with natural analine or coal-based dyes, but these often faded over time, so most artists switched many years ago to acrylic paint. With the acrylics, more cheerful colors can be achieved, and the paint is more long lasting. We love the sense of color in these cheerful carvings! Oaxacan wood carvings became commonly referred to as Alebrijes, especially after a popular movie came out, but the term alebrije actually is attributed to the Linares Family who create fantastical paper maiche figures in Mexico City. The term was widely used in Oaxaca after a joint exhibition that was done where both Pedro Linares of Mexico City and Manuel Jimenez of Oaxaca were present. Manuel Jimenez became the driving force behind Oaxacan wood carvings and is said to have been influenced by the colors that he saw in the work of Pedro Linares. But the actual term "Alebrije" is actually said to have come to Pedro Linares in a dream about fantasy creatures. There is much debate currently in Mexico about the use of this terminology, and who should have the right to use it. As a result, in Oaxaca, you will also see the terms Tonas and Nahuales, which refer to spirit animals and mystical creatures that take on both human and animal forms. Another term used is Tallas de Madera, or simply wood carvings from Oaxaca. Popular culture, however, has made it more difficult for the artists not to use the term Alebrije when referring to their carved figures, since more and more people have become accustomed to the terminology. It will be quite interesting to see how this plays out in the future.