Day of the Dead Art Esau Rodriquez
PULSE / Featured Artists interviewed by: Nathan Steere
With Halloween coming up, your Day of the Dead artwork is a perfect fit. How is Day of the Dead different from Halloween celebrations? I’ve always loved Halloween, but Day of the Dead interests me much more because it hits the core of my heritage. Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of loved ones who’ve passed with gestures of remembrance such as gifts and spiritual items. These are turned into an altar to honor the transition from life to death. Some think it’s a mournful celebration, but it’s actually very happy and respectful by remembering the good times of the deceased, and by sort of humoring death with calaveras (skeletons) in sugar skulls or other forms of artwork.
While Day of the Dead art has lots of skeletons, it’s really not trying to be scary or even funny. What are you trying to capture in these pieces? What I’m personally trying to capture is not only pride in my Mexican heritage, but also my personal love for skeletons. I really don’t know why people are so creeped out or afraid of skeleton art. I guess we all associate it so much with death that we forget we all have one inside of us, so it’s just as much a part of life as death is.
What’s the largest painting that you’ve done, and how long did it take to complete? The largest paintings that I’ve done so far are my two favorites, Viva Verguenza and Cryptic Vengeance. I worked on each for about an hour or two every day for about a month. I can sit down and finish a piece in a single sitting (which I have done before), but I also like to give myself extra time to think and wait for more ideas – always worth it!
How did you get started creating art? When I was very young, I wanted to be able to duplicate something that I’d seen in a cartoon and draw it on paper. As I grew, I kept at it, mostly drawings and colored pencil doodles. Then I saw a fantastic painting by my high school teacher Robert Domke, and I remember feeling inspired to learn how to do that. So I started oil painting a beach scene with windsurfers and found it so challenging. I kept painting with the help of my art teacher while I was in school, and wondered about art school. He said that maybe it wasn’t for me and the type of art that I do, explaining, “There won’t be anyone who can teach you, you have to teach yourself now.” So I left for Gainesville and for three years straight I painted and worked constantly. I developed my own style and motif of Day of the Dead artwork, and even designed a mascot of a sombrero-toting skeleton. That is how I personally view death – comical in some ways, and in other ways, very fearful. Ever since then, I’ve continued to challenge myself every day.
What mediums do you work in? I challenge myself by using various mediums on canvas: oil, acrylic, spray paint, plaster, charcoal, and even some Crayola markers and pencils.
Of these mediums, which is your favorite? My favorite is oil paint. None of the other mediums can stand up to oil because of its capability to stay wet for so long, and the fantastic blending that you can accomplish with it. It’s also the medium I started out with, so it’s the medium I know most about.
You’ve worked all over Florida…what draws you back to Naples? I love Naples.
It’s the place where I grew up. I know most young people
don’t fancy it that much because as they say, “there’s nothing to do here.” But I disagree – there’s actually a lot to do here! I’ve been to so-called “college party towns” like Gainesville and it’s really fun at first, but partying gets old quickly, not to mention its ramifications.
What is your heritage? Where is your family from originally? I’m from Monterrey Nuevo Leon Mexico. I came to the United States when I was only one year old. My parents thought it wise to move after seeing such despair in Mexico. They wanted to better our family lifestyle.
I understand you also do some Japanese style painting. What inspires this? Sometimes I do grow a little weary of Day of the Dead style when I do so many at a time, so I also indulge in Japanese style scenic beaches, animal realism, or even tattoo style artwork. I love Sailor Jerry’s style of tattoos, and I kind of incorporate that type into my paintings as well. Some people would think that changing styles shows that the artist is unfocused and unsure. I don’t think of it that way.Would you eat the same thing every day? No, sometimes you might want to enjoy some Chinese or Italian cuisine, and that’s how I think about creativity. It’s going out of the mainstream, daring and wanting to be something different.
Do you have any exhibitions planned? Any places where readers can view more of your work? My artwork is displayed at a very romantic local Italian restaurant called Piola located at the Naples Mercato. I always tell people to go there, “have a drink, eat some food, and then buy some art, you cheap bastards!” Some of them find it humorous! I will be having an art exhibit in October for a Day of the Dead art house at the Little Bar in Goodland, FL. That is one of my favorite restaurants. I’ve known the owners and their family for many years, and they’ve always been fantastic in both their hospitality and friendship.
Where can readers go to learn more? You can view my artwork at
www.facebook.com/EsauRodriguezArt, and “like” the page to hear about future art shows and upcoming art.
esau.rodriguez@
yahoo.com / 352-359-7449
18 | Pulse Magazine SWFL
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