{ Rain Barrel of Dia de los Muertos: The Showing }

So I finally finished that barrel.. I didn't update on here as much as I should have, but luckily Storm Water Matters posted some GREAT photos of the final barrels on their facebook page. Be sure to attend the opening at the KMA on Sunday May 22 at 2:00pm and bid on my barrel! or any of the other awesome ones! You can also bid online at their website.  The money goes to a great cause, and I'm sure if mine had the highest bid it would totally validate me wanting to paint more ... tehehehe. Thanks and Enjoy the final pics!

{ Rain Barrel of Dia de los Muertos: part deux }

Just a little update... and just in time, the clock is ticking to wrap this barrel up! I've had a too much on my plate lately, but was glad to find some time this weekend to start back up! this week I think this'll have to be my top priority!
Enjoy the Queen and her minions de lost muertos!

The Queen herself and the formation of her skulls...

{ Rain Barrel of Dia de los Muertos }

A typical Dia de los Muertos getup

So I've been dying to get back into painting, and what a better kickstart than a charity event... I mean, we all love to do good, right?  So I volunteered to paint a rain barrel for the Water Quality Forum via the Stormwater Matters group to benefit the town of Farragut (here's their handy Facebook page too!).  I've seen the previous years' barrel, and some are way cool, and figured this was a good gig to get into.

I've been sketching up some new directions to go in for my art, and I've really been fixated on my heritage... while, not Mexican (I'm Guatemalan + Spanish) I have found myself fixated on all things Dia de los Muertos related. These images done by Sylvia Ji (a Sexy Spanish modern day pinup painting meets Gustav Klimt) or even the fun t-shirt graphics by Mondo Guerra ... you know he was your fave last season on Project Runway... are the ones I keep finding myself coming back to. I've always been more of an illustrator, and I think it's time to take my findings on myself + culture (via my thesis in architecture) and love of graphics to the next media! so enjoy this Rain Barrel postings in the weeks to come! So far, I only have the base paint done, but weather permitting I want to make major headway tonight. And please any comments are always welx!

Mondo Guerra t-shirt graphic

Dia de los Muertos fashion - unsure of designer

Sylvia Ji painting

the simple red base coat