Pocket Saints

Retablos are a devotional folk art form from Mexico and the Southwest US. They are small paintings on wood of Catholic saints and angels. To create these affordable heart-felt paintings of saints, angels and blessings, Lynn has brought to the folk art of Retablo making, all the skills and passions that she has learned through a lifetime of drawing, woodworking and painting. Her business, Lynn Garlick Retablos has grown organically over a period of 20 years. She is a long time resident of Taos, New Mexico.

Speaking of her work, Lynn says, "The diverse cultures and the landscape of this part of the country deeply and yet unintentionally influenced me both artistically and spiritually. I am nourished by Northern New Mexico's rugged wildness and rawness. The profound devotion found in the different traditions and faiths here are unusual and inspiring."

Moved by the sacred art of the retablo paintings and the santeros (saint makers) who made them, she started creating them herself. Lynn hand-carves and paints her original designs on the traditionally used ponderosa pine planks. Then she decoupages high quality prints of her originals onto pine boards, in an old school technique used for the Italian altar screens of medieval Europe.

This process has made her printed retablos affordable. All of her saints are ready to hang or rest about the house, in a pocket or on an altar. On the back of the retablos is the story of the saint's life. Many of them also have a prayer.