Nicolas Morales: Little Hen Woodcarving Mexican Craft small metal charms in the

small metal charms in the shapes of stars

carved from one uninterrupted piece of wood

a world of its own

a jaguar mask is more than just decoration

The mother's protective arch and her shifting expression reflect Luis Pablo's skill in conveying emotion

Nicolas Morales: Little Hen Woodcarving Mexican Craft small metal charms in theLovely little hen by Oaxacan woodcarving artist Nicolas Morales. The gallinita is perfectly painted. Nicolas Morales carves her round as a loaf and paints her to the last feather, dividing the body into a dozen small areas, each finished in its own pattern. The back glows in an orange labyrinth of curling lines; the wings carry stacked bands of zigzag and Greek key in clean ochre and red, the belly opens into a green flower lattice, and the tail rises