WEEK 36
Hey there, thanks for joining us for Week 36 of HOMwork 2020!
This week, we have the amazing Marisol Ortega as a guest teacher.
Marisol Ortega is a first-generation Mexican-American designer, illustrator and letterer living and working in Seattle, Washington. She is best known for her vibrant flora and fauna illustrations that play with texture, linework, bold color palettes and organic shapes. She pulls inspiration from childhood memories of visiting her abuela’s home in Michoacan, Mexico and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
From Marisol:
When I was a little kid we used to spend our summer vacations visiting my grandparents in Mexico. It was the highlight of my summer because I got to see my mama Ines. Her house was so colorfully painted in reds, pinks and yellows and her love of plants was overwhelmingly visible the minute you walked through the gate. There wasn’t an empty vessel that didn’t have a plant growing out of it. There was so much life and warmth, full of love and nature—it was my zen. Decades later, I continue to be influenced by these memories of my grandmother and her garden both in my home and my work.
Whenever I feel creatively stuck or feel like I have nothing original to say or draw, I pull from my experiences with nature. Specifically, I look at photos I’ve taken on walks, hikes, or camping trips. Some of my favorite discoveries have been looking at the positive/negative spaces around a scene or the subtle textures that I somehow missed the last time I looked at the same photo. So for this week, I’d love for us to tap into our recollection of flora.
Your assignment: Letter and/or illustrate the name of a plant/flower that inspires you.
Thought starters: Tap into some of your memories or photos you have taken of nature. Think about positive/negative spacing, composition, textures, etc. Perhaps it’s the texture of the plant or the color palette, let your inspiration come through in your piece
Don’t forget to use the hashtag #HOMwork2020 tag @marisol.ortega and @homsweethom when you post your botanical creations on Instagram. We’ll be sharing our favorites in our Stories all week!
x Marisol and Lauren
P.S. Still looking to send more mail? You're in luck. Marisol is selling some handmade postcard sets that you could send your loved ones and help save the USPS! She also has risograph postcard sets (stamps included) that you can purchase. Check out all of the beautiful postcards in her shop.
