"Today I have a workshop, a cockatoo named Coco and a cactus collection. Those are all the tools I need to continue working."

"I was born in Agua Prieta, Sonora near the border of Arizona with its colorful flowers. I feel influenced by both cultures but, above all, I identify with Mexico.

"From the time I was a boy, I was attracted to art. My mother painted and I admired her creative ability. I began to draw cartoon characters at first. Later, as I became better at it, I drew animals and plants. I then learned watercolor, which is something I still enjoy.

"When I was 11, I began collecting butterflies. I'd catch them and keep them in a wooden box to exhibit them. When I was 20, I became an ecologist and defender of nature, and this is when I began to create animals in clay and resin.

"In 1908, my grandmother crafted a tray with a metal butterfly. My technique is similar to cutout metal, but more rudimentary. From this, I became inspired and started working in metal for its versatility.

"In 2004, I set up my workshop. I create each piece with my passion for drawing, and seeing the finished work fills me with satisfaction. I am very strict with quality because I'm very demanding in my work. I'm a perfectionist, and demand a great deal of myself because I love to watch people's faces, see their smiles when they see my work.

"A desire to get ahead motivates me. Today I have a workshop, a cockatoo named Coco and a cactus collection. Those are all the tools I need to continue working."