James Córdova Arts
Retablos
Retablos are santos painted onto hand-hewn wooden panels, usually pine. After the panel is cut out and shaped, gesso is applied to the wood. When the gesso dries the image is painted. The retablo is then sealed with a native resin varnish, such as the sap from a pinon tree. Retablos were hung in the walls of the churches as well as in moradas and private homes.
Bultos
Bultos are three-dimensional representations of the saints, God, Christ, and Mary. They were usually carved out of the roots of the cottonwood tree. After they were carved they were gessoed and painted. Again, they were sealed with pinon sap varnish.
Colonial Santos
New Mexican colonial santos were made of wood; altar screen and retablos were made out of native pine while bultos were carved out of cottonwood, cottonwood roots, aspen and pine. These native woods are still used by contemporary santeros, though cedar or exotic woods have also been used.
Since milled lumber was not available in colonial New Mexico, retablo panels were spliced from the trunk of a pine tree with a froe. The panel was then shaped with an adz, planes and drawknives. Bultos were carved with homemade and imported knives, chisels and gouges.
Initially oil paints were the norm, but gradually homemade pigments of various material both indigenous and imported were combined with both a vehicle and water. Native Ochres and vegetable dyes, such as "chamiso," were widely used by colonial santeros. Other pigments, such as indigo, vermilion, cochineal and Prussian blue were imported. After the colors were applied, a resin varnish was applied as a protective sealant and finishing element.
Modern techniques
Many santeros today —myself included— adhere to these traditional methods and materials, while adding to the traditional palette. New Mexican santos painted with natural pigments share a vibrancy of the colors.