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Mark and Ellen Santistevan are both self-taught artists in the New Mexican santero tradition of devotional art. This piece
represents the culmination of Mark's ambition to carve a life-sized crucifix, which was completed for Good Friday, 2000.
It is carved from cottonwood using only hand tools.
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Almost all of our artwork is a collaboration. Mark does all the woodcarving, while Ellen does all the painting. We research
all the iconography extensively and study the old masters for inspiration. This altar for Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe was
completed for the Feast of Nuestra Senora in December 2000. It is 20" x 30" and is currently at the Montez Gallery in Santa
Fe.
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This 4 foot crucifix was donated in 2000 to the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM. It features a cottonwood
corpus and pine cross, decorated in a traditional motif.
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This crucifix, completed in 1998, won Best of Show at the De Colores Hispanic Culture Festival. The entire piece stands approximately
eleven feet tall, and is made entirely of ponderosa pine, enhanced with watercolors and pine-resin finish.
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While both inspired and influenced by the primitive New Mexican and Mexican art around us, we each have developed a distinctive
style that continues to evolve with time. We exhibit at the Montez Gallery in Santa Fe, Santos of New Mexico in Budaghers,
and in devotional art shows around central New Mexico. For example, the "Buen Pastor" shown here was exhibited at the 2000
Santero Show at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Albuquerque.
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Ellen specializes in miniature paintings, as small as 1", but preferring 2" x 3" to 4" x 6". This small size allows for great
affordability, and therefore accessibility, for all. We strongly believe that devotional art should be both very personal
and unique. No two of our pieces will ever be exactly the same, even if they depict the same subject. If this art appeals
to you, please email us by clicking below. We will be happy to work with you.
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