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Pedro and Maria

"Hi, my name is Pedro and Maria is my wife and partner. We are both from the state of Guerrero. We come from a beautiful city surrounded by lush vegetation that inspires many artists. This area is renowned for ceramic works of arts.

"I've always been of a curious nature. My mother used to craft ceramic masks and one day, when I was 12 years old, I bought some paint and brushes and began to paint her ceramics. Nobody had ever taught me, for no one in my family painted their ceramic masks. They just sold them for others to paint.

"When I was 16 years old I decided to go on my own to the state of Jalisco, because I knew there was an artistic community where I would be able to sell my work. I was painting on amate paper as well as decorating masks, which I began to sell at arts and crafts markets. I saved the money I earned to buy more paints and go home once in a while.

"On one of these trips back home I passed by a village where I saw women fetching water from the well. Maria was amongst these women and the moment I saw her I knew that one day she would become my partner for life."

Maria comments: "I used to clean houses as well as help my mother sand and file the masks she used to sell. One day I was going to fetch water when Pedro walked up to me. It was the first time I had ever seen him, and he said, 'You will be my partner for life.' Several days passed by and eventually we started dating.

"According to our culture's traditions, when a man and a women become involved, their parents have to meet. So mine went to talk to Pedro's parents. Our traditions also dictate that the groom's parents should offer the bride's parents something in return for allowing their daughter to marry their son. However, our parents didn't have much money, so Pedro's parents gave mine a couple of hogs. Then we had a party to celebrate our union.

"The bride's parents are supposed to give the happy couple a variety of furnishings for their new home. My parents gave us a woven mat over which I could grind our corn, buckets for carrying water, and some pots to cook our beans.

"We lived in Pedro's mother's house for two happy years, and Pedro taught me to paint. One day he said it would be better if we returned to Jalisco to sell our ceramics. I said to him: 'The day you told me I would be your partner for life I felt the same thing toward you, and I will go with you wherever you want to go.'"

"That was 14 years ago," recalls Pedro. "We now have four children. When we first moved to Jalisco it was difficult. We worked hard and we saved a bit at a time until we were able to have our own little workshop."

Maria continues, "We always work together, trying to save money so that we can get the best education we can for our children. We also want to buy a piece of land back in Guerrero, so we can build a house when we go back. Love and hope keep us together and fill us with happiness, happiness we wish to transmit through our art, and into our customers' hearts."