 Oaxaca woodcarvings were all originally painted with aniline paints made with natural ingredients such as bark of the copal tree, baking soda, lime juice, pomegranate seeds, zinc, indigo, huitlacoche and cochineal.These colorings were also used for dying clothing, ceremonial paints and other uses.Since 1985, most carvers have now switched to acrylics which resist fading and withstand repeated cleanings better.