Closing 'The Book'...or am I?

...thanks again, ladies!!

I don't really have any 'closing thoughts'...'cause I don't believe this series is done.  I would like to revisit this theme, the sugar skull/la Catrina imagery really appeals to me.  

Before the series ended, I made it out for a 'girls movie night' with some of my favorite gals.  We watched, 'The Book of Life'.  This was the perfect ending to this month.  (Notice I didn't say the 'end the series'....)

The idea behind the movie...which I only found out about AFTER I committed to doing this series...and the whole idea of honoring those that have passed but also celebrating LIFE...I gotta say- this totally appeals to me.  

I tried to play it off...but I watched much of that movie with tears welled up in my eyes...moved by the story, the application of this to my life and what I believe is important...and just the beauty of the movie itself.  

What am I being so lame?  It's just a movie, man.  But lately I have been thinkin'...

My Frida series...the Dia de los Muertos series...it is all connected.  My father was Mexican-American but my parents divorced when I was five.   I never really knew that part of my heritage but it is something that is in my blood.  In many ways, this month spent working with the idea of the sugar skull was my way of honoring the death of that part of me- my Mexican Heritage.  Exploring these images, along with my own love of color and whimsy, has allowed me to pay homage to this part of myself, which in fact lives on.

I don't post much about some of the more series things that go through my head...about growing up in a broken home, about growing up poor, about how deeply I am impacted by the death of people close to me...instead I keep it light, colorful...I choose whimsy. I choose to create what I consider to be beautiful. There are so many things that are out of control in my life, present and past...maybe that is why I am such an #OCPDartist ...and why dealing with my days with daily, numbered pieces of art that I can categorize and label by number...day...month...year.  

Sorry to get a little deep...but lately I have been really thinking about the direction of my work...about artists statements...galleries...dreams...fears...and about why I do what I do...all of the questions, and answers, are still evolving.

And so am I.

Moving along...just wanted to post a group pic (below) to see all my 'Dia de los Muertos' pieces side by side.  They are not in order...not really thought out in placement...just kinda...placed.  I really like the way that this series looks as a larger group- the colors are the thing that really jump out at me.  

...and if you are reading this, thank you.  Thanks for looking at my art, and my journey.