I was asked to sign paint (in spanish, rotular) a metal curtain with the logo for a line of cosmetics dubbed ‘Angelíssima’.

It took me three days and I was a pressure pot of first time experience. An undulated metal curtain is a very challenging medium to paint on. I used a grid for the logotype and feather, the text I had to do on the fly. I believe it shows evident in the photos.

This post is very overdue as I finished the rotulo at the start of January for the Omnilife Centro de Apoyo – OmniClub in Acayucan, Veracruz, México.

Peace.

Below are the finished results from one mural amongst the 16  that were painted during the first phase of Puebla Cuidad Mural in the barrio (neighbourhood) of Xanenetla in Puebla, Méxio.

There was no light in the barrio and that a generation behind all the children of the barrio were born at home (not a hospital) with the help of a partera (a rambo midwife).

The family also own and revere an image of the Virgin of Juquilita. An aparition of the Virgin in Oaxaca, they tell of the need to cut her ever growing hair every year and that she is very miraculous.

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During the interview process and discussions between myself and Comik Bonampak the original concept was to have the Virgin of Juquilita with the triangular dress is the middle of the building with her hair ever flowing and encompassing their home. On one side the clay articles were to flow down through the hair and on the other babies with the partera receiving them into the barrio.

As the members of Bonampak had alot of experiance painting and I had none, I decided to dedicate myself to creating the decorative elements which ended up being confined to the pattern for the Virgin’s dress.

I used food types for the pattern on the dress because the family earn their living cooking food at ferias (festivals) and picked ingredients they regularly use. Onions, Beans, Wheat, Corn, Chiles and Tomatos.

In this way the Virgin is to look after their livlihood and her hair their home.

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Later the babies and partera were omitted and the Meso-American heads of the Rain God Tlaloc and the Fire God (whose name eludes me) were added.

I feel that our original concept was stronger but many things change during the execution of a collaborative project and such is life.

The family are happy and that is what is of the highest importance.

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Our family are now very proud of their house’s facade and for the first time made a fiesta for the Virgin inviting all to eat, have mass and dance through the night

Overall I learnt a lot and it was a privilege to work with such talented artists, Comik Bonampak in particular. next time I will take on much much more

These sketches were taken from 3 sketch books I have been filling.

They were sent as part of my proposal to join this collective effort in rejuvenating Xanenetla a run down part of Puebla capital. (Here is the english version of the project site.)

A selection of walls in the neighborhood will be renovated and murals designed and applied by the winning applicants will adorn them.

I have been accepted and am awaiting word from Colectivo Tomate.

When I tried to flesh out the initial outline with colour , the colours I chose washed themselves out and/or clashed unhappily against each other.

Luckily a cousin from beautifully chroma-coloured MÉXICO took the role of Inker. He chose and applied the all the colours seen.
(Thank you Mundo.)

The texture and colour blending in Fiery Dawn and Watery Dusk I added afterward.

Tip

I have started following this Colour Theory tutorial by Wroqx.

The second instalment, (previous post) in the Beautiful Words Decoratively Presented series.

It employs simpler type, less texture and fewer shadowed levels when compared to it’s predecessor.
I am unhappy with the colouring. I am having trouble colouring my designs.

Tip
The colour swatches from Kuler (by Adobe), are available from their self titled panels from within Illustrator and Photoshop.

This is the first in what will be a series of beautiful words decoratively presented. Partially inspired by the decorative opulence seen in Baroque churches.

I see the Baroque application in churches as a mechanism used to amaze and captivate the viewer. A way to slow the distracted mind down and implant doctrine. I would like to test this theory and use it to reinforce positive thinking.

Eventually I hope to integrate these with interaction and animation.

I set about brainstorming which disciplines I would like my creative output to orbit around.

As I bordered the title of the brainstorm in a cloud I was jerked back into what I am beginning to think of as Baroque Doodling.
I can see where my mistakes obliged me to evolve decorative elements. I learnt some visual tricks and improved my line making.

As this is a mixture of original intentions, mistakes and subsequent adaptations the overall growth is hard to gauge.
I hope this spirit will continue to manifest itself and increase the visual interest of these drawings.

This is a piece that I developed from this original sketch.

I prefer the original sketch, it feels more creature like. I envisioned it swimming in a squid or jellyfish fashion.
I do intend to revisit it as I was cutting my teeth with Illustrator and my Wacom Bamboo.

What do people think? Do you like the textures?

I have been photographing decorative wrought iron.
The majority have been taken here in México (lindo y querido) a few are from Italy and one was taken in Amsterdam.

I hope they might serve as inspiration.