Bark Paintings
AMATE PAPER
“PAPEL AMATL”

    Painted Amatl paper painting is also called “Bark Painting”. Making the paper itself is a labor of love. The
paper is produced the old fashioned way by stripping the Amate Tree bark, boiling it and pounding it by hand with
a stone. This rough textured paper may be a brown color showing the bark fibers or more finely textured to a light
cream which is more laborious. My favorite is the brown fibered paper but it also depends on the paintings which
compliments it.

    The areas of Oaxaca, Zapotec Indians, the people of Ameyaltepec and Xalitla paint brilliantly colored designs,
using bird motifs, sometime with deer or feline creatures, or everyday and festive life village scenes. The village
scenes depict a great deal of detail, sometimes using farming, dancing, weddings, “los voladores”, elaborate fire
work displays as well as cock fights, and bull fights.