Search the Community

My second piece to celebrate the Mexican “Dia de Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) festival is called “La Danza Azteca”, and is intended to reflect the Aztec origins of the festival, and the troops of dancers known as “Concheros” who dance in public spaces throughout Mexico to honour the traditions and rituals of their pre-hispanic culture. My Conchero wears a headdress depicting Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain, water, and fertility, and a necklace bearing the image of Mictlantecuhtli, the God of the Dead and ruler of Mictlan, the Aztec underworld. As usual, I’ve included some detail shots and the original concept sketch, if you’re interested. If you like what you see, please also check out my earlier Day of the Dead post “La Calavera Catrina”.

New vector work – Dia de Los Muertos I: La Calavera Catrina Today the famous “Day of the Dead” festival begins in Mexico. Definitely NOT to be confused with Halloween, the Day of the Dead is a three-day riotous explosion of colour and joy, where people all across Mexico honour and remember their loved ones and keep their memories alive. This spectacular festival is something I’ve been fascinated with for years, and seeing it first-hand one day is definitely on the bucket list! I’ve created two pieces to celebrate this festival, and my first one “La Calavera Catrina” (The Elegant Skull) is based on the traditional female costume for the Day of the Dead. La Catrina is known as the “Grand Dame” of the afterlife. She wears marigolds in her hair - believed to lure the dead back to the world of the living for the duration of the festival through their powerful scent and vibrant colour - and a collection of skulls representing the souls of the departed. She also wears the Sacred Heart crown, to represent the fact that the festival takes place across All Saints Day and All Souls Day – two minor holidays in the Catholic calendar, the quetzal feathers represent her native Mexican heritage, and the roses are an obvious nod to Frida Kahlo. I’ve also added some detail shots, the outline, and the original concept sketch. Hope you like them! I’ll be posting my second piece, La Danza Azteca, separately, so if you like what you see - keep a look out!

One of my first creations with Affinity Photo. #stillearning Stocks: (from left to right) www.pexels.com/photo/man-s-bla…www.pexels.com/photo/photograp…pixabay.com/en/caribbean-man-g…pixabay.com/en/guitar-beautifu…