I do enjoy the “On This Day” one year ago or ten years ago that Facebook and Google Photos often fill our feeds with. Reminding us of things we were proud of or “accomplished” that week, family events, a sense of normal from the past. Anyway, this was a great assignment illustrating the article “The Origins of Christmas — and What Remains” by Andrea Aliseda for Edible Manhattan Celebrations Issue December 2019. My Best friend from art school is from Mexico and I have traveled there many times. We took our daughter Greta to Oaxaca a couple years ago. Her first excursion out of the country minus a quick jaunt to Canada. So it was a great pleasure to research and illustrate this project. AMO MÉXICO
The Aztecs — Temple Hearts
Digital Illustration for Edible Manhattan Celebrations Issue December 2019 responding to “The Origins of Christmas — and What Remains” by Andrea Aliseda Prints Available
The hearts of humans past tumbling down the Temple stairs with a nod to Keith Haring’s dynamic use of quotes. The skeptical sun looming. This drawing I originally thought to use the anatomical hearts, but figured it was too much or too gruesome, so I submitted it with the heart shape we all know. My editor and the author came back and requested a look with anatomical hearts and I happily sent that right along and this was the one selected.
The Aztec people, who reigned over five to six million people and up to 500 small states, were ruled as a civilization by the fealty to their gods and went to great lengths to please them. Illustrations by Kat Murphy
Huitzilopochtli
Huitzilopochtli, known as “blue hummingbird to the left,” god of sun and war, was among the most crucial to the Aztec people’s livelihood. Being in good graces with him ensured rainfall, harvest and triumph in battle. Illustration by Kat Murphy Prints Available
Maíz Sagrado
In addition to amaranth, the ceremony Panquetzalitzli had another sacred ingredient: maíz. Women would skillfully create figurines with blue toasted maíz and maguey honey. Illustration by Kat Murphy Prints Available