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Paulo Cortes

"Hello, I'm Paulo Cortés. I was born and raised in the heart of central Mexico where I learned to work with tin. It all began when I was a boy and I worked as an apprentice in a metal shop. There I learned to cut the tin sheets and, little by little, I learned every step of the process. After several years of working for others, I decided to open my own workshop where I could develop and market my own designs.

"So in 1995 I began to work on my own in the breezeway of my home. My designs were very well received so little by little I invited my brothers and brothers-in-law to work with me. Today I have a family workshop where all of us have learned this craft. Now my brothers no longer leave home to find work - they stay here and help me.

"We begin by tracing the patterns on sheets of tin and then we cut them and give them the desired form. Each mirror has many pieces to be bent into shape and marked for soldering. Some pieces need to be reinforced with a metal bar to strengthen them so they don't lose their shape. We apply a finish of copper oxide and carefully add the fine details. Finally, we spray the piece with lacquer to protect it.

"The products we make are the result of years of learning in some of the best workshops in the region. My designs are developed when a new idea suddenly comes to mind and I think of something different. My work blends traditional Mexican style with my own variations. This way I create innovative models that meld our roots and my imagination."