Our Artisans  Home > Our Artisans

Every artisan we partner with creates his or her work by hand using using the same methods that have been used for years. From perfecting a shape to achieving bold and natural color results, most artisans we work with continue to work together with older family members to perfect their skills and achieve high results.

The working environment for every artisan is different. Some work in their homes. They work in their patios or rear parts of their home. Others have separate working facilities they can walk or bike to. Because the learned craft is one that has existed in a family for generations, many artisans make it a joint family business.

One family of artisans we work with includes a father, a sister, and two brothers. Although it is a collective effort, they each take great pride in their expertise. As the second and third generation of family ceramists, they are originally well recognized for their specialty with a traditional style called Bruñido. This style depicts a shiny, natural, stone-red color with design accents in white. Because this style is no longer as popular, they have evolved their skills to include other designs.

The 80-year-old father starts his workday in his sunny patio where he sits at a table made of cement to carefully mold the clay. At eye level is a self-made wooden shelf that holds his tools and radio. With his parrot beside his desk and his radio at a low volume he concentrates at molding the clay. The ceramist skills he has taught his own children are those he learned from his father many years ago.

The two brothers work in the rear part of the house surrounded by clay shapes they have put to dry in the sun. They are responsible for shaping, heating, and readying the clay for the next and final stage. The sister sits in an area of the patio that has mango and lemon trees— even an old water well. Surrounded by natural beauty, she is responsible for hand painting and creating the designs.

With nature around, they work together and are inspired by all things natural. As in any art, there are those artisans that keep to traditional styles using certain natural colors or even incorporating animal designs that represent their region. And there are those artisans who take their skills and create more modern designs.

Regardless of style, each artisan that Casa Verde Imports works with creates his or her work by hand paying close attention to the smallest detail. There is nothing automated about the process each has to go through. There are no shortcuts. There is only skill, knowledge, and dedication.
Father Hands Molding