One of my major failings as an artist is leaving my cultural background out of my art. I know, I know. That sounds harsh. But if I’m being honest, I have hardly any work that celebrates or even depicts my heritage! I’m Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Italian, and these cultural traditions played a massive role in my childhood. I have my fair share of memories, traditions, and recipes from each one that shaped the person I am today.
Of the three, my Mexican identity has gotten the short end of the stick. Many prominent Mexican family members of mine died when I was young. Despite the early passing of most of the Mexican elders in my family, I’ve always felt deeply connected to them. I spent summers visiting them in Brownsville as a child, and while the memories are somewhat foggy, bright vivid moments shine through.
I think of my ancestors fondly and frequently. Especially in stressful times, I turn to memories and photos to bring me comfort. I didn’t grow up celebrating Día de los Muertos, but I grew up with the belief that our loved ones are never gone. In my childhood, I celebrated it as All Souls Day. In recent years, I’ve used the day to set aside time to remember my loved ones. This year, I created this piece to honor them.
I wanted to reflect the love I feel from my passed-on loved ones, even through photographs. I think the love comes through on this peace. I’m particularly proud of my use of color here. This piece is a tangible sign of my growth as an artist and my expanding command of color. The lighting of the frame feels masterful to me. I started this as a color pencil sketch and then moved on to using alcohol markers. I’ve posted my process videos on both Instagram and TikTok. It hasn’t photographed as beautifully as it looks in person, but that’s taught me another lesson on my journey as an artist.