Art: 2022 Day of the Dead Drawings

These two drawings were submitted to the Modesto Junior College Day of the Dead Art contest in October, 2022. 

Both ended up with a prize award, with Maravilla Catrina in second place, and Entre la Conquista with an honorable mention.

Maravilla Catrina was a part of an existing series of monster-themed figures, and was adapted to suit the competition. The piece is inspired by traditional Mexican sugar skull art, as well as the symbolism of flowers such as marigolds commonly associated with the holiday. The character was inspired by the existing La Calavera Catrina character, and the dress takes inspiration from the traditional Jalisco Ribbon Dress worn by many dancers within Mexican culture.

Entre la Conquista was created in my Spring 2022 Basic Drawing class. Half of the figure is made up of traditional Mexican inspired colors and organically shaped symbols, while the second half uses colors and geometric symbolism associated with pre-colonial Mayan culture. Both are synchronized in the concept of death- the sugar skull with the Mexican side and the color of blue (the color painted onto human sacrifices) on the Mayan side. Geographically the same, yet historically separate.