“I started sanding masks at 11 years old. Next, I wanted to carve them and learned little by little by watching my brother and dad. By 15 years old, I was making masks on my own and soon after, people started noticing my work. Now I feel I just need to learn how to paint!”

Rudy is one of the youngest fine-carving artists. He eagerly learns new carving tricks. Most often, a mask artist will bring him a balsa wood log with a design drawn on it for him to carve. In return the artist will paint one of his masks. Thanks to collaborating with several painters, Rudy has made new friends. Participating in the project at Selby Gardens has allowed him to fund his studies and, in 2019, he graduated from an accounting degree and is now looking forward to studying business management.