QUIMBAYA MASKS PT. 2

As promised, the Quimbaya masks are back! Don't they clean-up well?! :P I've been playing around with color here and there but there haven't been any breakthroughs...yet. I'm thinking about making these into little promos for my blog and contact info...and in the near future hopefully, a website! Perhaps...stickers? What do you guys think?

SUPER VALLENATO MAN-- 1ST DEBUT-- TO MEET YOUR VALLENATO NEEDS!

Earlier in the summer, a few of my comrades made a group on facebook requesting submissions on a topic--just for fun. I thought it was a marvelous idea however, I just couldn't get around to it. One time the theme was SUPERHEROS. I can't remember if he/she were to be rotund but I DO remember that I immediately thought about this guy and quickly made a thumbnail on the closest receipt I could find so I wouldn't forget.

Today, I decided it was time to further develop SUPER VALLENATO MAN and here he is in his sketch form:

Valllenato is one of the most popular music genres in Colombia. In fact, it was created there--thus the name: "born in the valley" specifically, Valledupar (Valley of Dupar). This is vallenato in its traditional and most pure form: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycrmCSZ3v28 and this is vallenato as it is heard today (you'll also see how big it is in Colombia): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwSxGfzsruA Vallenato is mostly played with an accordian, caja (kind of like a little bongo) and a guacharaca (which gives songs the raspy sound in the back). Stay tuned for more from the adventures of SUPER VALLENATO MAN!

QUIMBAYA MASKS PT. 1

Finally, just recently, I have been making additions to my sketchbook. I have trouble making stuff up and drawing exactly what I envision on paper-- most of my sketches are directly from life. Don't think I haven't drawn things without reference and from my imagination...I have-- just nothing that I would label "decent." Point is, I have been trying to figure out ways I could make my reference and imagination worlds meet and be satisfied with it and -- eventually-- use less reference and more imagination. Kind of like what Nicorette does for smoking addicts...

Here are some of my recent attempts with Quimbaya-inspired masks (P.S. my scanner is lousy):


More to come!

GUEVARA & ROMERO IN THE SAME POST?! ALSO, REVIEW ON MOVIE

After watching the new CHE movie yesterday, I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject. It wasn't your typical "hollywood" movie where they add sex and naked women to maintain interest. So that's definitely a plus. The second half dragged on a little but I guess we naturally want things to run smoothly-- in this case, it was more of a reminder of how life, even as a movie, does not always end happily ever after...in a sense. I'll spare you all of my cliche: "but his legacy will long live..!" I've never seen Benicio Del Toro in action but he was great in this one. Both Che and Fidel had their voices on point. Here is the link to the trailer for anyone who is interested:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2878866201/

Also, below the CHE movie poster, is another of my revolutionary portraits. Oscar Romero from El Salvador. He was shot and killed in the 80's while conducting a mass, he was a strong advocate for peace, equality and justice. There would be great tension if they were ever found in the same room together. They both want the same kind of results but the process of getting there is different in opinion. One is for violently gaining freedom and the other peacefully obtaining it. Ideally we all want to obtain freedom, or anything for that matter, peacefully...but sometimes people feel (and from experience they have reason) that we need to fight violently to gain freedom. I think today we are passed the "violent age" and CAN bring about change peacefully.

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

My brother and I are getting ready to go see a "week-only-screening" of another CHE movie. I say that because when isn't there a movie on El Che?! Nonetheless, if there was anyone to watch this movie with, which won't come out till next year, it would be my other Latino Revolutionary friend, my brother. Its 4 hours long with a 30 minute intermission. So I'm really excited and I will get back to you on my review of this movie. Anyway, I recently did digital pieces on a few "Contemporary Revolutionaries" including this guy above. Guess who.

RECENTLY TOUCHED UP PIECE PT. 2

We Are Not A Minority. This originally was a painting I did for a color concept class in acrylic. A year or two later I decided to clean it up and make them into vector shapes. I think the flag works a lot better, too.

Raices, Acrylic. This was a piece on the theme of "Love"-- In this case, it's love for Colombian culture and "roots". I'm satisfied overall with it but it's not really in the style I've since developed. Maybe I'll revisit this concept and start a new one. Stay tuned.

Recently Touched Up Pieces PT. 1

"El Pueblo Manda y El Gobierno Obedece", Acrylic. This is one of my first pieces done in acrylic. 2007. I was given a lot of freedom when given this assignment for a poster. Inspired by the Zapatistas in Mexico.

LIFE DRAWINGS PT 1