Alejandro Luna

"I refused to let my father's wonderful skills be lost and continued working with him, reinforcing what I'd begun learning as a child."

Update (August, 2019)

“I always find it a great pleasure to carve different woods, including pine, cedar, and sabino; my favorite is the cedar. It allows me to achieve more detailed textures in the sculpture.

“I always find a good reason to carve the first thing that comes to mind. One of the details that I really like to achieve in each of my pieces is the effect of movement. It is fascinating to visualize the sculpture with movement, and then cut and carve until it is achieved.

“Every sculpture for me is my way of life; they are the flavor of my day-to-day. And for that same reason I am in constant practice. I love my work; that is why I want to always be improving and perfecting my technique. That has allowed me to win several awards at the state level.

“I feel very fortunate to work hand in hand with NOVICA. I am still surprised how quickly my pieces are liked. I feel very happy that, as artisans, we have a company that supports us to grow.”

Original Artisan Story

"I'm Alejandro Luna from the state of Guanajuato. It was my father, Jesus Luna, who introduced me to wood carving. I helped him in his workshop every day after school, and he let me do some simple carving on his sculptures.

"At first, I found the work tedious and forced. But as I advanced in my studies of mechanical engineering, I realized on my own that the discipline they required each day called out for an activity that would help me relax my emotions.

"I refused to let my father's wonderful skills be lost and continued working with him, reinforcing what I'd begun learning as a child.

"My main focus is the technique, no matter the theme of my design. For me, technique is the medium of expression in my work.

"I use sabina wood, a kind of cypress native to Mexico, although it's also found in limited areas of south Texas and northeastern Guatemala. This wood is my great ally, and my father showed me that this is the most appropriate wood for our kind of work.

"I conceptualize each design from the point of view of movement. I see a block of wood and try to utilize every centimeter in the best possible way. And in this way, I design my relief panels.

"The polishing and filling in rough spots is indispensable so that each detail stands out.

"Since I began this project, I've found that attention to my shoppers is fundamental. I strive to design what they would like to see in a sculpture and, for me, this is the basis of all my work. When I see people happy with my designs, it's very rewarding.

"Today, I want to expand my collection and convey the importance of quality, expression and value, as well as the fascination of something authentic."