Original, Leather Canvas, "Paradise Along The Amazon" by J. Toaquiza 7.9"x11.8"

About "Paradise Along The Amazon" by Jose Luis Toaquiza

"Paradise Along The Amazon" by Jose Luis Toaquiza transports viewers to the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest, capturing both its breathtaking beauty and its teeming diversity. Against a lush jungle backdrop shimmering under a golden sky, a crystal-clear river cascades through the scene, surrounded by flowering orchids, towering tropical trees, and dense foliage. Remarkable Amazonian wildlife comes alive on every branch and bank: exuberant parrots, toucans, monkeys, butterflies, and even a contemplative squirrel all inhabit this vibrant tableau. Toaquiza’s meticulous brushwork and radiant palette evoke a sense of awe and interconnectedness, conveying the Amazon not just as a setting, but as a living Eden where the wonders of Ecuador’s rainforest coexist in joyful, harmonious abundance.

The Art of the Toaquiza Family: From Mountain Peaks to Amazon Rainforests

Let us journey to Ecuador, a breathtaking country in the heart of South America. Nestled between the Andes mountains and the Amazon rainforest, Ecuador is home to a rich artistic tradition one that is uniquely embodied by the Toaquiza family.

This remarkable family of artists hails from Tigua, a small, high-altitude village in the Ecuadorian Andes. Unlike the capital city of Quito, which itself sits 2,800 meters above sea level, Tigua rises dramatically to nearly 4,000 meters. Visiting the Toaquiza home means traveling from thin air to even thinner air, many visitors must take altitude medication just to avoid headaches and fatigue. But those who make the trip are rewarded with a glimpse into a truly exceptional artistic world.

The patriarch of the family, Juan Luis Toaquiza, was born in Tigua. Early in his life, he embraced the traditional style of Ecuadorian naïve painting. These works typically depict vibrant scenes of agrarian life festivals, shepherds, farmers at work and are often painted on animal hide, a practice long rooted in the region. In Tigua, hides were never taken from living animals; instead, the artists waited until animals passed away naturally, then stretched the hides tightly like drums to create their painting surfaces.

To create art upon animal hide is to weave reverence into every stroke a tribute that honors the creature’s spirit by granting it renewed presence and voice in the world. In this transformation, the animal lives on, cherished anew through the artist’s vision. Fittingly, Ecuador stands alone as a land where wild creatures are not just admired, but protected by the force of law, their rights enshrined with the dignity they deserve

But Juan Luis’s artistic journey soon took a turn. Facing economic challenges in the highlands, he ventured down far down into the Ecuadorian Amazon. Most people associate the Amazon with Brazil, but it also reaches deep into Ecuador and Colombia. It was here, in the dense, humid jungles near Guayaquil, that Juan Luis found his new inspiration.

He wanted to capture the beauty of the rainforest but encountered a practical problem: how to paint in the wild. He managed to find hide from animals that had died naturally, but the traditional drum-tight hide was too rigid to allow for the fine detail he desired. So, deep in the jungle, he devised a new method of treating hide, softening it just enough to absorb paint while still holding the image. This innovation allowed him to portray the rainforest with a level of delicacy previously unseen in Ecuadorian naive art.

Then came another challenge paintbrushes. With no access to stores, Juan Luis had to be resourceful. His wife, ever supportive, offered strands of her own hair. He gathered them and fashioned his first jungle paintbrush. With this humble yet intimate tool, he began to render intricate images of jungle life: delicate leaves, glistening water, jaguars, toucans, fish-filled streams, and lush canopies.

As Juan Luis painted, his children watched and learned. Victoria, José Luis, and David all took up the brush, each developing a distinctive style inspired by their father’s innovations. José Luis, in particular, emerged as a standout talent, with some even considering his technical skill and visual storytelling more refined than his father’s though all of their works share a sense of reverence and wonder for the natural world.

I first met the Toaquiza family in Quito and soon after visited them in their home in Tigua. There, I witnessed firsthand how their art, while rooted in the traditions of the highlands, had evolved into something entirely unique. Most naive artists in Ecuador still depict the mountainous life of shepherds and festivals. They paint on untreated hide so taut it rings like a drum when tapped. Their skies often feature the majestic condor, wings outstretched, symbolizing protection and spiritual guardianship.

But not so in the art of the Toaquizas.

Instead of condors, their skies are filled with jungle birds. Instead of shepherds, they paint jaguars, crocodiles, toucans, and dense forests bathed in soft light. Their hides are supple, their colors vivid, their details astonishing.

When you view their paintings whether Juan Luis’s serene jungle scenes, Victoria’s enchanting forest visions, or José Luis’s dazzling portrayals of life along the Amazon you are stepping into a narrative rarely seen in Ecuadorian naïve art: a story of the rainforest, born from a mountain family who dared to descend, explore, and reinvent tradition.

To touch the back of one of their works is to feel the soft, treated hide unlike any other. And to gaze upon the front is to see a world, lush and alive, captured with love, detail, and devotion passed from one generation to the next.