Day of the Dead Art by David Lozeau
David Lozeau paints on everything from antiques to musical instruments to put a
non-traditional twist on the centuries-old Day of the Dead subject matter, layering 1
Shot enamel over acrylics and gouache to achieve ghosty characters with fine details and a
smooth, bright finish. This is his unique way of celebrating and paying
homage to his favorite time of year.
El Día de los Muertos, also known as "the Day of the Dead," takes place on November 2nd as a way to pay tribute to the departed. Similar to the November 1st Catholic holiday "Día de los Inocentes," which honors children or infants who have passed, el Día de los Muertos is steeped in the tradition of celebrating life through music, dance, food, art, prayer, and family togetherness.
Sentimental offerings, or "ofrendas," such as bread, toys, candy, flowers, and pictures are placed upon candle-adorned altars or graves as gifts to loved ones, while wood, clay, tin, and paper are transformed into whimsical skull masks and sculptures to exchange and display. Catrina, an elegant, skeletal woman made famous by printmaker José Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s, is one of the most recognizable figures in the Day of the Dead holidays and still permeates and influences Mexican Folk Art today.
Millions of people around the world now celebrate "Día" through more modern means of expression, and in Southern California, it's easy to be inspired by the calaveras and orange marigolds woven into street art, intricate scrollwork pinstriped onto lowriders, and sugar skull tattoos inked onto body parts. Every year, you can find Lozeau live painting at events that highlight the historical and cultural significance of the celebration.
