PRIETO PROCESS

Materials and Technique

First I start by selecting within stone or wood.

I use different styles of stones, like: white, black, green, travertine and botaccino marble, onix and zeolite stones as well, and always looking for some new material to carve and work my passion with.

How do I start working my pieces?

Stone: I start by wetting the piece and then dry it real quick to see if there’s a crack (as the water stays in the cracked zone), other way to identify if the piece is no good is hitting it with a hammer, if I hear a simple sound without vibration the part is definitely not in a good shape to get the job done, the piece should sound clear and neat, like a bell.

Technique: I start by getting rid of the excess that I’ll not use with a buffer until the shape grabs my attention, after that I start drawing the lines that will guide the whole process with a diamond tip drill. I keep doing this until each carving line gets no greater than the center of the piece.

I will give an example of the time that it can take me to finish the pieces, The Master Key piece (black marble, 55") took me 8 months to finish it, 3 for the carving and 5 for the finish and great looks, this shine and breath taking looks are made by different size and types of sandpaper until no lines are shown and that I see that it is ready for polishing.

Wood: I mostly use wood pieces that still have their skin, because if not the piece is dry and is very common to get broken. When I find the piece that suits my needs I start real quick to get the skin off and work on a very dry place and without the sunlight (this makes the piece to dry very easily), by that I have time to be more delicate and to get a perfect job, also, when I get tired or want to continue later I put the piece in a refrigerator or an A/C room because this helps the piece to slow its dryness. When I get the shape that I’ll finish I put some layers of wood varnish, this makes the piece immune to the sunlight and air.

Technique: In this case there is more hammer and chisel work for the shape and then just a little drill to get everything even, and instead of polish paste I use the varnish and sealer to protect the wood and to get those natural but very cool looks.

Inspiration

My inspiration is to leave something perfect, durable and inspiring to others in the roads that I’ve been, the shape of the pieces is just the freedom of my mind, it’s my perfect place, it’s what I’ve done, done right.

How do I come with the names?

Well, I think of the name when the piece is done and what it looks to me, as simple as that, but with a meaning, like the piece that I called "El Reto" (The Challenge) is because I’m challenging an architect to do a building with this shape. The "Master Key" is because I believe that is the most perfect piece I have ever done.