Oaxaca, city in the same-name region of Mexico was recommended to me by my friend as a "very Mexican city". In a way, yes it does look exactly as I've seen Mexico on the big screen but it is so much more, it's a city of art. Part from it being so beautiful and colorful, Oaxaca is filed with galleries, art events and artist everywhere. I almost moved there, it's so inspiring and just wonderful. 

Mescal in cactus bush

Cactuses, that are everywhere in Mexico, are the main part of my background. The reason why I've chosen Oaxaca painting to feature them finally is because of Mescal. A famous Mexican alcohol drink, Mescal is produced mostly in Oaxaca, and more important, it shown in many artworks in the galleries of this city. Mescal is not made of all the cactuses in the background but I used the opportunity to put the cactus that produce mescal in a bush of other ones. It was that or a glass of mescal in Lila hand.

The music of amazing Lila Downs

My trip was mark by Oaxacas, I think, most famous singer today - Lila Downs, so for my woman figure I had to choose her. You instantly fall in love with her music and her energy. Here I took inspiration from her song El Palomo del Comalito. In the video you can see the costume that is on the painting. and the yellow line that is around the painting is representing the corn, as in one part of the song she is dancing in the fields of corn and sings about it. The portrait itself doesn't look like her cause I still wanted Oaxaca to be represented here but I did use her picture to make a portrait.

Now a bit of Lilas music, one that I've spoken about and other about Mescal, of course. ENJOY: 

...and now something faster...

I hope you've enjoy it as much as I did, I can just say that I can't wait to come back to Oaxaca. Just when you look at a few pictures you can see how easy it is to be inspired by this city and that's maybe why there is so many artists there.