Nicho de Santa Fe, 18" x 22" x 12"

One classic motif in New Mexico tinwork is the scalloped rosette or half-rosette, which López incorporates into nearly all his work. A rosette figures prominently in the state logo, seen by millions since 1997 when López created the design for the New Mexico Department of Tourism. The artist also honors tradition by hand-producing all his own tools for the creation of hand-stamped designs.

As an innovator, this Master of the Southwest has developed special patinas for tin, one of which resembles rich brown leather. He also is among the few artists accomplished at painting on tin and doing reverse painting on glass panels for tin items such as nichos and lamps.
 
“Ideas will come to me as I’m in the process of making something,” he relates. “I’ll think: Maybe next time I’ll do that.”