Ta Da

So like I promised, here they are! Take note of the spectacular job the squeeze did cleaning up the wall and meticulously painting in those purple squares behind each painting. 

The show on Food Network, Taco Trip, did their interview of Taco Escobarr last week and the episode will air in October! The squeeze's contributions to the restaurant, i.e., the outside sign and 10,000 chili pepper lights strung from the ceiling, and my paintings will be on cable TV, how exciting! We probably still won't actually be paying for cable in October as we've gotten used to surviving off Hulu Plus and Netflix, but I'm sure we'll find some way to view the episode.

Keep your eyeballs peeled! 

Tacos

Guess what I'm doing right now? A happy jig because I finally completed the Taco Escobarr wall commission! I know, you're probably raising an eyebrow thinking these look familiar and that I'm not on my game today. They are the same paintings from a previous post, but I had to add three more; the scorpion, arrows, and shrimp, so technically you're right. It's a huge relief though, not to mention I'm looking forward to not having wooden boards littering our living room floor. I also can't wait to see them up on the wall at the restaurant! It'll be a nice feeling to leave something behind that's memorable in our hometown, I'm hoping it gets a lot of positive feedback from taco lovers and margarita sippers alike.

What's your favorite? I'm partial to the skull, because, well, I love to draw dead things. That sounds a lot more morbid than I mean... I just love skulls.

The squeeze is going to help out and bring the wall they will be hanging from back to life, it's been displaying several varieties of artwork for First Friday over the months and as a result looks like a slice of Swiss cheese. It needs a lot of TLC and spackle to say the least. So after some filler and a fresh coat of paint, up they go!

I will definitely take a picture of their final resting place (pun intended) once everything is set up.

Skulls and Roses

I can officially and happily say that I finally finished the painting project our friends commissioned me to do.

*breathes huge sigh of relief*

I always feel like I have a million and one things looming over my head to begin with, so when I added this project to the list I was a little overwhelmed. But that's how I am by nature, easily overwhelmed. So one day at a time I chipped away at it, only in the recent past couple of days did I really tackle it full force. I turned into a little couch monster covered in paint, I took over the whole living room with my neon acrylics and take-out food. But alas, it is done! I know you're probably thinking 'hey, those are pretty simple images to get all hot and bothered over,' and they are. But I'm painfully a perfectionist, so sometimes things take a little longer.

Here's to the next project!

Loteria

I was recently asked by the squeeze's (and now happily my) friend to work on a project for their business. Taco Escobarr comes up a lot in convo these days, one of the owners has been friends with the squeeze since high school, and aside from eating there frequently we've both gotten involved with the restaurant in some way. That huge amazingly well done sign hanging out front on Congress Street? Courtesy of Le Squeeze. The cascade of thousands of chili pepper lights strung from the ceiling? Also courtesy of Le Squeeze (and a few participants, as those lights didn't come with the chili pepper covers already on them).

I participated in their first First Friday Art Walk, even managed to sell a few things! But Meg claims it's been tough finding someone to fill the wall space for every art walk, she wants something more along the lines of a permanent display. Have you ever heard of Loteria? It's essentially the Mexican equivalent of Bingo, a game of chance. Instead of numbers there are pictures, things like skulls and roses, perfect for the vibe over at Taco.

So here they are, six wooden panels that I have to paint to look like slightly weathered Loteria playing cards. I'm excited! Also very nervous. Projects have always made me anxious. I should really take a note or two from this Mexican proverb: Para dejar el pellejo, lo mismo es hoy que mañana.