Carlos Torres Chávez was born in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico and has had his hands in clay ever since he was a child. Third generation potter, Carlos follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who worked with clay in the days when the Lake Chapala area was known for its pottery.

When Lake Chapala began receding, many potters moved to other areas and the pottery industry virtually died, however, the Torres family kept working at their handcraft and today Carlos is known for his whimsical figures with "tiny" heads.

Carlos, now 47 years old, works in what he calls "commercial" clay and also in barro bruñido (burnished pottery). Of course, the commercial is less expensive but not nearly as impressive as the former type. He has six children, 3 boys and 3 girls. The boys are following in his footsteps and learning to make their own magic in the clay they work.

A new technique, working in the "negative" is something Carlos is learning. Working in the negative requires the knowledge of a specialist craftsmen, given the complexity and richness of form and decoration that is found on the pieces. Explained in basic terms, first a box is built and filled with packed silt. With his hands and simple tools, he carves a negative into the silt, which will become the exterior of the vessel. From there he pours slip (with roughly the density of a thick milk shake) into the carved cavity. The slip dries slightly over several hours until Carlos scoops out all the slip that is still liquid. When the clay has dried completely he breaks the mold and has a completed greenware piece.

The art of creating beautiful ceramics has been cultivated for centuries by the Mexican people. Simply by looking at the magnificent ceramics created by pre-Columbian civilizations we can see that this land possesses an extraordinary artistic heritage. Contemporary Mexican Artists have drawn upon this legacy and re-invented ancestral techniques.

If you are interested in learning more about Carlos Torres, please contact Marianne Carlson at (from the US) 01152 376 765 7485 or email marianne carlson@gmail.com.