Signed Painting of Northern Peruvian Farmers, "Tancacho"

"I'm Eblin, from San Pedro de las Cajas. My parents, Teodolo and Hermelinda have long been Novica featured artists – you may know them as Ulloa Family. My sisters and I have grown up in a loving family environment with the unconditional support of our parents.

"We are all textile artisans, our parents taught us how to weave. Having been born into art, I became more inclined toward painting which I then formally studied and I've participated in several local, national and international art contests. I have learned a lot from these experiences, and they have helped me perfect my technique.

"I belong to an association of young people who practice different art forms. We share our experiences and expertise with each other. I love learning from them as much as I love sharing with them what I have learned at home, art school and from the various workshops I have taken.

"I started painting with oils, but I found it challenging at first: it wasn't as manageable as weaving tapestries. However through hard work and constant practice I improved day by day. I was moved by the curiosity and the challenge of creating collages with different elements. I prepare some of my materials in order to create textures or reliefs… these are all things one learns through experimenting.

"I am inspired by my surroundings: life in the sierra, our customs, our clean air and nature. I love animals – we're never without a cat at home, and I'm always taking their pictures so I can paint them. Children are a source of happiness in our home and I relate them to the colors I like to paint with: strong and cheerful colors such as orange and yellow, as well as colors that represent our landscapes."