Handmade Ceramic Owl Sculpture from Nicaragua, "Beautiful Owl"

Fredy Munguia Arauz is known and respected as a responsible person dedicated 100 percent to his work. He proudly and gladly shares with us a part of his story and the art he has practiced since he was very young.

"I was born in a small town in Nicaragua in 1976. My town is filled with ceramists and, as you can imagine, I grew up surrounded by artisans. So from childhood, I became involved with this art.

"At first, I only watched but, as you know, a child is very restless and curious and this helped me a lot in learning. I eventually created my first ceramic pieces and my father, along with his friend Helio, saw potential in me.

"Day after day, they taught me every step of the craft process, from how to choose the best clay to the final small details to create quality ceramics.

"The learning process enriched me and I was able to craft designs that were increasingly innovative. I took it as a small challenge that made me feel proud to see the results.

"Presenting these designs fills me with happiness — they are a part of my life. They're crafted with much love and dedication.

"I'd love to be able to teach this craft to my children because it's a part of my family legacy. I hope they fall in love with all of it to preserve this wonderful regional art form.

"As time went by and I created new designs, Arlen Estrada — a Novica-featured artisan — has become an important part of the process. We've worked together with new ideas. She's a super-creative person and has helped me explore beyond what I knew.

"Today, I'm proud to share my art with you because it represents years of work to improve my techniques and always give you the best."