Bird Alebrijes

Alebrijes De Aves Oaxaca| Oaxaca Bird Sculptures

Manuel Jimenez and his amazing alebrijes

Oaxacan Wood Carvings are the most popular folk art traditions in Mexico. Beginning in the 1940’s,

Manuel Jimenez, a wood sculptor, began creating wood carvings of animals and creatures, while living in Oaxaca Mexico.

In 1957, His amazingly beautiful sculptures were discovered by local art galleries and his style of animal sculptures quickly became famous around the world.

Other artists in the Oaxacan community began making alebrijes wooden or cartoneria animal sculptures to represent their character traits (spirit animals).

To make an alebrije:

Artists carve the animal’s form out of wood or build the form out of cartoneria.
After the form is complete, artists paint the entire creature with one solid base color.
Then artists divide the body into sections by drawing organic or free form shapes on the surface of the animal sculpture.
Each section is painted its own solid color.
Finally each section is filled with contrasting patterns.

Supplies Needed for the whole project

Newspaper

Thin Cardboard - like cereal boxes

Tape

Scissors

A marker

Water cup

paint brushes

hot glue and hot glue gunAluminum foil

Tempera or Acrylic Paint:

Plaster Cloth:

Watch the video to build the armature of your Alebrije de Ave

Lesson 2 - pt 1

Covering and attaching your wings

You will need plaster cloth, water cup, scissors, hot glue, hot glue gun

Watch the video to wrap and form your wings

Lesson 2- pt 2

Plastering your Body

You will need: plaster cloth, water cup, and scissors

Lesson 3

Painting your large areas

You will need: Tempera or acrylic paint, paintbrushes, and a watercup.

Lesson 4

Painting your small areas