Product Description
Gerardo Ortega has been creating these whimsical figures of clay for over 20 years. He is constantly looking for ways to innovate and develop new products with a surrealistic feel. His mission is to be true to the art, to expand the imagination and to contribute socially to the community where he lives. He provides opportunities for apprenticeships to young people who want to learn his craft. Many have tried to copy his style, but Gerardo is the original creator of these treasured pieces
Artist Bio
Gerardo Ortega
The Ortega Family who are renowned for their 100% hand-crafted 'betus' technique using simple 'barro' (clay) to create the most colorful, whimsical, surreal art of imagination. This technique has been passed to 5 generations of the Ortega family, 2 of which currently run the operation - the older 'hermano' (brother) Gerardo is the 'Gerente General' and then the other brothers Oscar and Eleutario oversee production and painting. The sons, daughters, nephews, and nieces who range in age of 16-30 work in production, design, and painting. It is truly a family operation. Their home in Santa Cruz de las Huertas is one in same their "taller" (workshop). The creative process starts from the fine clay powder which they mix with water to create the clay which ends up a very dark brown color, then they mold all of the individual pieces needed to create a design and then piece them together, then the design is left to dry in the sun for 2 days, then they paint the designs and finally fire them in the kiln.