Reposado    
 
 
       
 



 

One of my neighbours owns this Chiuhuahua.   I was amazed when I first saw her in the street,  because she is so small, even for a chihuahua.   I wanted people to see just how small she is,  so I had the idea of putting her in a still life set up.   Initially I photographed her with the bottle of Encona sauce   (a favorite condiment in our house)  then I was able to use that as a reference point for the rest of the items.

The still life has a slightly tongue in cheek theme of Mexico,  since the Chihuahua is supposed to come from there,  though the Chihuahua's origins are shrouded in mystery.   It is thought that the Chinese may have taken the Chihauhua to South America,  before the Europeans arrived,  as they were particularly fond of dwarfing things,  but no one really knows, except that they made their first appearance in the Americas around the 1800's.

It is a nice idea to think they are an ancient Aztec breed,  and it is with that thought in mind that the still life is a bit of a cliche regarding all things Mexican,  because it is from a Northern European viewpoint,  right down to the Safeway  (now Morrisons)  cornchips, with a design of a snoozing man on the front  (not exactly p.c.).   Behind the Chihuahua is a tin of kidney beans,  the bottle behind is there simply to balance out the composition,  then in front is a bottle of Tequila,  with limes,  the Encona hot pepper sauce bottle,  (my reference point)  a selection of sweet and hot peppers,  red and green,  being two of the three colours of the Mexican flag and the most sacred of foods,  corn on the cob.

I had not noticed the label on the neck of the tequila bottle until I started painting it, but then it all tied in, and hence the title Reposado, which means restful or in repose.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
  Reposado
   
 

One of my neighbours owns this Chiuhuahua.   I was amazed when I first saw her in the street,  because she is so small, even for a chihuahua.   I wanted people to see just how small she is,  so I had the idea of putting her in a still life set up.   Initially I photographed her with the bottle of Encona sauce   (a favorite condiment in our house)  then I was able to use that as a reference point for the rest of the items.

The still life has a slightly tongue in cheek theme of Mexico,  since the Chihuahua is supposed to come from there,  though the Chihuahua's origins are shrouded in mystery.   It is thought that the Chinese may have taken the Chihauhua to South America,  before the Europeans arrived,  as they were particularly fond of dwarfing things,  but no one really knows, except that they made their first appearance in the Americas around the 1800's.

It is a nice idea to think they are an ancient Aztec breed,  and it is with that thought in mind that the still life is a bit of a cliche regarding all things Mexican,  because it is from a Northern European viewpoint,  right down to the Safeway  (now Morrisons)  cornchips, with a design of a snoozing man on the front  (not exactly p.c.).   Behind the Chihuahua is a tin of kidney beans,  the bottle behind is there simply to balance out the composition,  then in front is a bottle of Tequila,  with limes,  the Encona hot pepper sauce bottle,  (my reference point)  a selection of sweet and hot peppers,  red and green,  being two of the three colours of the Mexican flag and the most sacred of foods,  corn on the cob.

I had not noticed the label on the neck of the tequila bottle until I started painting it, but then it all tied in, and hence the title Reposado, which means restful or in repose.