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Oil on canvas.
This was my uncle and aunt’s place in Vegas (my cousin Antonio & sister Monica also stayed there). I had some of my happiest moments in that little trailer. Some of the best food in the world came out of that little kitchen too. I was lucky to be able to eat dinner there a lot during high school. My tia would put me to work helping cook & my tio would always trick me into doing the dishes & other chores by telling my tia (right infront of me) how nice I was to offer to do whatever chore it was he wanted me to do. My tio trimmed the bush out front to look like a heart (for my tia), but we used to teese him saying it looked more like a butt. Me and my uncle would sit and draw together. We’d listen and watch my auntie dance around cleaning the house. It was a fun place. I was always welcome any time of day or night & I did totally abuse that priviage. I never did wear out my welcome with them (I’m sure anyone else would have grown sick of me in no time). Anyways, I painted it all decked out with luminarias (they’re a New Mexican thing – candles inside paper bags weighed down with dirst – we do this on Christmas Eve to light the way for the Christ child). I changed things up with the sign. It looks the same, but it’s really located to the front and over to the right. It was way too good to leave out so I just moved it. I actually painted this for my tia (just to make her happy). She had moved out when my uncle passed away a few years earlier. We found out she had brain cancer shortly after I started this painting. I tried really hard to get it done as quickly as possible. It was nearly completed & not yet dry when I had to catch my flight to go see her. I figured I’d have it mailed to her or mail it when I got back. I never did get to give it to her as things progressed so quickly & she passed away less than two weeks later (while I was there visiting). This painting has been featured in A Place to Call Home & Panter’s Universe.