Carl Nebel

Happy Birthday Carl Nebel!

Today I am writing about an engineer, architect and lithographer who was born on March 18, 1805.  Although Carl Nebel was born in Hamberg, Germany, I am including him in this blog because of his amazing lithography work of the Mexican-American War, landscape and genre. He studied in Germany and France before traveling to America when he was 24. He lived in Mexico until 1834 and while there began documenting Mexican life through his paintings. Once back in Paris, Nebel's work was transformed into 50 lithographic prints, 20 of which were hand-colored. (A process just being developed at that time by Alexander von Humboldt.) In 1836 his work was published in his well known book Voyage Pittoresque et Archeologique dans la Partie la plus Interesante du Mexique. 
Later he would publish another illustrated book specifically on the Mexican-American War.

But I particularly like the genre works, one of which I am including today...

Ignacio Barrios

Happy Birthday Ignacio Barrios!!

Today is Ignacio Barrios' birthday! The Mexican watercolor painter was born in 1930, in Zacualpan, Mexico. He had five siblings, of which he was the youngest. Barrios fell in love with art at an early age, often known to skip class to go out in the fields to draw and paint. He created his first watercolor at age 7. He later studied painting at San Carlos Academy, focusing initially on murals, but eventually settled on watercolor. He became one of the prominent watercolor artist of his country.

British, William Turner (as evidenced, I think, in the atmospheric painting below) and American, John Marin were influences to his work. His primary subjects were landscapes, although he has also painted portraits, still life and abstracts. Barrios has won several awards and even had films produced about his life as a painter. In addition to painting he has also taught and been quite influential to other upcoming watercolorists. His work has been exhibited all over the world.

Luis Barragan

Happy Birthday Luis Ramiro Barragan Morfin!


The Mexican architect/engineer was born on March 9, 1902, in Guadalajara. After first studying engineering in Guadalajara, he went on to become an architect. His work was contemporary and quite influential. He has had many international architectural students and professors visit and tour his buildings.

In 1980 Barragan won the Pritzker Prize (the highest award possible for architecture). Then in 2004, his own home, Luis Barragan Home and Studio, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "My house is my refuge, an emotional piece of architecture, not a cold piece of convenience."

 Luis Barragan died in 1988 at the age of 86.

Naomi Siegmann

Happy Birthday Naomi Siegmann!

Today is International Woman's Day! So in celebration, I thought I would write about a woman artist. Naomi Siegmann, a sculptress, was born in 1933, who lives and works in Mexico City. She feels living in close proximity to pre-Hispanic ancient remains has inspired her work. She carved wood for over twenty years, when health concerns caused her to turn to other methods. Never in all her years of carving did she need to cut down a tree for her work. Instead, she used cast offs from veneer shops, found wood in the forest, etc,

Currently Siegmann works with sand cast molds of wood, using metal, paper, and found objects and she calls her work "abstracted realism". Although most of her work is life sized, some is monumental. In 2010 she was organized a project to promote forestation with 14 other artists challenged to create trees from any material BUT wood. The sculpture I am including here was made in 2016, entitled Jacaranda. It is an open Jacaranda tree pod, measuring in centimeters 80x38x39.

Abraham Angel

Happy Birthday Abraham Angel!

Born today, March 7, in 1905, Abraham Angel (Card Valdes) first lived in El Oro, then the family moved to Puebla, and finally to Mexico City. His father abandoned the family, leading to an older brother helping raise the children. Angel dropped his surnames after a falling out with his brother resulted in Abraham being kicked out of his home.

Abraham attended the Academy of San Carlos, where Manuel Rodriguez Lozanok became his tutor, then lover. After Lozano began to cultivate a new apprentice, embarrassed and heartbroken, Abraham Angel was found dead of a suicidal cocaine overdose in 1924, at the young age of  19.

His work was contemporary, flat, boldly colored planes. The primary subjects were portraits, villages and landscapes. Only about 30 paintings remain of his work and are highly sought after.

Jose Maria Estrada

Happy Birthday Jose Maria Estrada!

Jose Maria Estrada was born in 1794, in Guadajara. After studying with Jose Maria Uriarte, he attended Academia de Artes. He was known for painting directly on the canvas, dispensing with sketching or drawing out his subject first. He was a traditional portrait painter.





Estrada is considered one of the most important painters of the Jalisco region during the 19th century.
His work is held in several public as well as private collections. Roberto Montenegro is perhaps the most well known collector of Estrada's work. Jose Maria Estrada died in 1860.

Ofelia Marquez Huitzil

Happy Birthday Ofelia Marquez Huitzil!

Born in 1959, Ofelia Marquez Huitzil was one of three children. Her great grandfather was a painter of religious works; churches.

Ofelia was inspired to become an artist after her middle school art teacher took her to visit the national art school "La Esmeralda" where she ultimately studied for six years. A fellowship from the government of France provided the opportunity to travel and study abroad for three years.

Her work is abstract with large blocks of color providing backdrops for more figurative elements. This juxtaposition caused her controversy within the abstract movement. In addition to painting she has also worked with collage and various forms of printmaking.

She has taught French at various universities to supplement her art income.