El Gatito Negro on Day of the Dead

One of the stories that has developed in working on various illustration assignments for my undergrad at Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design is El Gatito Negro. It was created in Procreate on my iPad.

When I can relate assignments to cats and other themes that I am really into, I can gain more insight and motivation to do a better piece. Here is my final for Perspective class. The assignment was to use perspective to make the piece look like an illustration and not an architectural drawing. 

I really enjoy working on art in the current season, which is why my lead time on work will be for the year ahead. 

Happy Halloween!! and if you celebrate the return of your loved ones that have passed on Nov 1st & 2nd Happy Day of the Dead!! 

Gatito Negro y Las Monarcas - Repeat Pattern

As we creep closer to Halloween and Day of the Dead week, I have been posting images I worked on this year. This is a repeat pattern from El Gatito Negro y Las Monarcas by Nancy Cuevas (me). I will be posting more in the next few days. 

This time of year is bittersweet. It's my favorite season, but with it comes much grief. I lost my father almost six years ago, around this time of year. Losing him changed my life as it did my whole family. He was our rock, and without him, we have all had to reassess everything. It has led me to my recovery from taking on too much. I am very grateful, but I miss him so. 

Monarch butterflies symbolize the souls that return to Earth on All Souls Day - Day of the Dead. The life cycle of a Monarch butterfly is extraordinary. Their migration stretches months and vast distances to arrive at their breeding grounds in southern Mexico, Michoacan, where my family is from. 

Marigolds in the Aztec language Nahuatl are called Cempasúchil. Their sun god, Tonatiuh, gifted them to honor their dead. 

In many cultures, the black cat is considered bad luck, but for me, it's the solace of grief. The one that remembers because it knows what it is to be forgotten. 

Today, October 27th, is the day we honor our beloved pets that have passed on. 

Autumn Stitching and Plans

Autmn by Sara Guermani

I started this pattern back in August 2021 but realized that I had counted wrong for the fabric 36 count linen and decided to order 56-count, which would help reduce the size. This is the top left quarter section, which is almost finished. Need to do some final back stitching and fill in the door on the purple house on the right. I changed the colors considerably and made notes just in case someone else askes me what I used. I am filled with joy whenever I look at that acorn border. I am so smitten by this design. 

I'm not sure if I will be finishing this piece this year since I want to start a Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings. I saw this stitched on a bright purple linen that I absolutely LOVED! called Highland Heather by FabricsbySteph, which does not look like it's available anymore.  I am planning on dying a 56-count linen to see if I can match the color.