Ernesto Milanes Art and Cigars, Hand in Hand

To Ernesto Milanes, artist lately turned artisan, an interest in cigars fostered his making of beautiful humidors, true masterpieces having the virtue of preserving cigars in optimal shape for smokers.

Milanes was born in Santiago de Cuba more than three decades ago and considers himself an artist who enjoys craftwork, especially humidors. Some of his works have been sold at auction at International cigar events and the profits donated to the Cuban health system.

He told us that one of his humidor making techniques got started when a friend asked him if he could use the molding from a picture frame to make a humidor. He became enamored of working with that genre and, fortunately, it has been well received by humidor afiCionados.

According to Mllanes, the greatest influence on his work is that of "my master, friend and advisor, Roberto Fabelo (one of the most important contemporary Cuban artists), whom I greatly admire. His teaching and advice to continue advancing in my art have given me lots of strength".

Among his future plans are to continue working hard, experimenting with new techniques and discovering new materials with which to make art.