In early 2010 an old high school friend, Taiz, whom is also an artist said to me, “Carlos, let’s do a Dia  De Los Muertos show at the Coffee Table!” I said sure! The coffee Table (now closed) was a Silverlake icon ever since i can remember and I was born and raised in Silverlake so that’s a long time. Their prices were a bit steep but the food and the atmosphere were great. It was a community hangout with Actors, writers, artists, musicians, students and parents as patrons. Taiz got in touch with Matthew, who became out liaison to the owner. after a bunch of emails, we set the show for October 23rd.

Among the ideas and themes we had in mind for the original art we would produce for this show was the idea of synergizing aspects of our experience with that of Dia De Los Muertos. In the US, this celebration only slightly resembles the one in Mexico, The Mexican community here decorates their faces resembling colorful sugar skulls. Once we had locked in a date and general concept for the show, I got to work creating art i started with 3 portraits of Aztec Goddesses, two of which I used my roommates as models for. These paintings hinted at the contrast between old Aztec beliefs and the new Spanish ones that took over, namely  Religion and Sex.

and the third one I made up entirely.

then came my monster series, inspired by years of watching Sesame Street and Tim Burton films.

Quite simply, they are portraits of monsters wearing plastic skull masks, each of them even has a price still attached.

 My Tattoo sugar skulls were inspired by just that, the Tattoo culture in the US. my love of Anime inspired my Anime De los Muertos series and among the girls that i painted is a portrait of Taiz which I named “Bubblegum Doll”.

 I did a series of small drawings that embodied music and the central piece my punk rock Mariachi skeleton! All inspired by my exposure and immersion into the punk rock world.

 The show itself was awesome! I worked with Vesper Public relations to get me on air interviews about the show on Spanish Television in the months leading up to the show and alot of people came out!

This was the show that in essence kick started my Fine art career, until this show I had mostly done work for hire: storyboards, background layout, illustration, Logo design etc..

but it was this show that helped to start me on the path of a fine artist in the traditional sense.  Two things happened as a direct result of this show my own solo show in NY and a year long exhibition in a high end LA restaurant.

ORCHARD WINDOWS and YXTA

One of the paintings at the show, “Xotchilquetzal” caught the eye of a gallery owner on the lower East side of Manhattan and before I knew it, I was in talks for my first Solo show. Dino Eli, owner of Orchard Windows in New York’s Chinatown told me that my rendition of the Aztec Goddess of flowers, love and beauty caught his attention and that if i could create 8 large paintings in that same style, he would give me a show in his gallery, I jumped at the chance. I immediately started looking for models and canvases. Once i had photographed all my models, I began painting.

Veronica 50% complete

Nancy 50% complete

At this very same time i was in the process of beginning a second series of paintings at the request of Jesse, the owner of YXTA Mexican restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. he had stopped in at the Coffee Table one day and by chance, saw my art and signed my guest book letting me know that he was interested in having my art on the walls of his restaurant. After a visit to his place, i decided to do large rectangular paintings depicting various Aztec Goddesses, this would give me a chance pay homage to my main artistic influence Alphonse Mucha.

La Diosa Mictecacihuatl

My brother Jeff and my Sister in Law, Sandra

The crate had arrived at Sohung Designs Boutique in the East Village where my sister in law sells her clothing lines. I now had to transport the crate from there to the gallery and the lack of any car left me with only one option, I put the crate on a wooden dolly and pushed it 15 blocks south through the city. This seemingly daunting task was anything but that! i was loving every moment of it! Soaking the sights and sounds of the big apple at street level, meeting people on the way, answering their questions as to what was in the big box I was pushing and handing out flyers. I felt like a true artist. at one point, i came a cross a window front DJ who was doing a show on an Internet radio station, I rapped with him for a while, gave him a flyer and he announced it on the air! It may not have been a big deal but it added to the positive vibe that i was feeling. A few nights before the show, I passed out the majority of my flyers in Chelsea during their art nights where the public descends in droves to check out all the galleries there. My solo show went off without a hitch!

Mimi and I

Melba and I

 I had old friends that were in NY show up as well as new friends that I had made in the last few days plus I got a nicely sized crowd from my Chelsea flyer hit!

Tony, Steve and I

All in all throughout the evening, I think there were about 80 to 90 people that passed through the gallery, I consider that a success!
I left the paintings with my brother in New Jersey and a few weeks later he and my sister in law helped me display the series at Sohung Designs boutique!
Once I was back in LA, I got to work on the second painting for Yxta, every other month after that, i began work on a new Goddess and looked forward to each unveiling

Sister Vivian, Bro in law Geoff and I

Model Casia and I

Geoff, Model Nathaniel, dad and I

Jesse, owner of YXTA and I

Model Bodhi and I

Friends Andy, Tina, Brian, Kengi and I

Chapter III
Stalking the cemetery


coming soon…..