Originally from San Antonio de Ibarra in the province of Imbabura, Ecuador, Juan Fernando belongs to a mestizo cultural community where artisans and artists have preserved and enriched their traditions through handmade crafts for generations. As an artisan, he specializes in carving cedar, walnut, yalte, and pine wood—a skill he has honed and complements with painting and sculpture. His work also includes a diverse range of natural and recycled materials, such as pigments, tagua seeds, and semi-precious stones. He is a recipient of the CIDAP Medal for Tradition and National Identity, awarded by the Inter-American Center for Craftsmanship and Popular Arts.