Marisa Hopkins: Living the Creative Life: Flashback Friday

La Catrina in Love
Marisa Hopkins
2002

Okay, I don't normally participate in memes. Something about the whole "But everyone's doing it..." makes me want to rebel and do the exact opposite (i.e. post a ridiculously long post with a million words and pictures on Wordless Wednesday... take that, Wordless Wednesday. Ha!)

But then Tia of ChristopherandTia started the Flashback Friday meme... so here I am. Not rebellious, and ridiculously nostalgic. Actually, I wanted to post a photo of my first Elegant Snob... like, first ever, which was a self portrait of moi, drawn about 10 years ago... but I only had some rubbish photos of it and my camera is entirely out of batteries (dontcha just hate that?)

So instead, here is a Dia de los Muertos illustration I did something like 7 years ago. My mom and I had been in San Diego for a weekend getaway, and the San Diego Museum of Art had a Latin American art exhibition filled with all the gorgeous La Catrina figurines and ofrendas and intricately cut tissue paper flags... oh man, I was in seventh heaven. Techicolor skeletons, flower-filled alters, gorgeous masks and sugar skulls... I just flipped out and ran right home and designed this piece featuring La Catrina, whose hat and ribbons and feathers I LOVE.

My style is a little different now, huh? Sorry the lighting is so terrible. This illustration is huge, and way too big for my scanner, and I'm terrible at photographing art, so the colors are a little off - the heart in the middle of her chest is actually hot pink! - and the photo is grainy and shiny and blech... colored pencil sucks to photograph, but you get the general idea.

So happy Friday and happy flashbacking, and if you want to flashback with me, don't forget to hit up Tia's blog and post your link.

Enjoy!

xoxo,

9 comments:

Vanessa @ See Vanessa Craft said...: Beautiful work. I hear you on rebelling against memes :); October 9, 2009 at 11:46 AM
April said...: I'm starting to get into the whole sugar skull thing. They're all so beautiful. I love that piece of yours, so lovely!; October 9, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Tia Colleen said...: Thats so awesome. Its weird seeing your older art, compared to the things that you draw now. I like it though. So excited that you flashed back with me, hehe.; October 9, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Sharon said...: Love the hat on La Catrina! It's a great hat for being in love!; October 9, 2009 at 1:30 PM
jessicajane said...: i love it! the colors are amazing.; October 9, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Pretty Things said...: Those are really cool -- awesome colors, makes me think about making some beads in those colors!; October 9, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Amy said...: I lost a son in 2005 and have loved sugar skulls ever since. The whole Day of the Dead festival intrigues me. I love the idea of having a special day each year to remember your loved ones who have passed.; October 9, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Anonymous said...: Wow, that piece is awesome! It's fun to see a little something different now and then... I know we all have it in us!
:D; October 10, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...: What a cool piece!; October 10, 2009 at 4:14 PM