Using wood from local copal trees, Oaxacan artisans carve the fanciful Alebrijes creatures, often hand fitting them with removable pieces. The copal wood figurine is then dried, sanded smooth, and hand painted, using fanciful colors and tiny dots in the Alebrijes traditional style. A single piece can take weeks to complete, depending on the intricacy and sophistication of the design and the artisan's skill level, both in carving and detailed painting.

This brightly colored "coyote" have a removable tail, which can be positioned either pointed up or pointed down. He is signed by the artisan, Carlos Guiterrez, from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Click here to learn and see more about the Alebrijes fantasy wood carvings