I first became interested in the Peruvian Indians of the Andes after reading about them in National Geographic in the 1960s but I did not actually get to Peru until 2001.  What drew me to the people was admiration for their ability to retain their language and culture and even their local costumes while living in the harsh climate of the Andes. A farmer of the Sacred Valley near Cuzco described how they got up every morning at 4am and climbed for 4 hours to their gardens high up in the clouds and made the return journey in the evening, When I asked why he chose such a hard work he explained it was not a job but a Way of Life, they not only worked the land but were also part of the land. 

I wanted to paint the everyday lives of the Indians as a way to honor them and as a record of their way of life it should be lost in the future.