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Create a halftone border in Photoshop.
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Add a halftone drop shadow using Photoshop.
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Free high-quality high resolution photos.
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Trouble-Free Color Palettes: Fiesta
From their people, uptempo music, food rich in taste and texture, and moving histories, Latin American cultures have many reasons to celebrate.
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From their people, uptempo music, food
rich in taste and texture, and moving
histories, Latin American cultures have
many reasons to celebrate. You too can
have a blast incorporating fiesta-inspired colors
in your projects. For a lively palette, do as Rafael
Lopez often does, and turn to Latin America for
energetic colors that almost seem to dance.
Working out of his San Diego studio, Lopez
fuses a strong graphic style with magical symbolism,
reflecting his cultural heritage and the colors of Latin
life. Lopez cultivated his craft while growing up in
Mexico City and was strongly influenced by Mexican
muralists such as Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo.
Like much of Lopez’s art, “Wingworks” (shown at right) has a bold, vital drawing style with roots
in these traditions. “I was thinking of the revival of
many urban areas and the influx of new, youthful
life,” the artist remembers of his thought process in
creating the piece.
“I make conscious emotional connections as I
paint,” explains Lopez. “Being from Mexico, I was
raised surrounded by color. Color becomes an intrinsic
part of who you are or what statement you want
to make about yourself.” Lopez’s pieces draw particularly
from Latin America, but he’s also influenced by
music and his travels as well.
“Music inspires me in a big way and gives texture
and tone to my work. I travel extensively, and
the rhythms of life find their way into my paintings,”
Lopez says. “Latin jazz is the best music to listen to
while I’m working—if you look closely, you’ll see it
clearly between the brush strokes.”
And soon, youngsters also will be sharing in the
celebration of color as Lopez, inspired by his son,
ventures in a new direction: children’s books.
Fonts
For a bold take on
a Latin look, call on
Scurlock (hola) and
Oliver (amigo), both
free at www.fontface.com; or try ITC Juice
(chica), Arriba-Arriba
(bueno), and Frances
Uncial (adios), from
www.itcfonts.com.
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Culture
Infuse the grace of a
bullfighter, the energy
of the tango, and the
rich histories of Latin
America into your
project with terms like
matador, Latin dance,
Cinco de Mayo, and
Mexican Revolution.
Image 22376367,
Stockbyte.
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Food
Draw colorful inspiration
from exotic
foods like tropical
fruits (papaya, guava,
mango) or spicy peppers
(jalapeños, chiles,
habañeros).
Image
22176127, Brand X Pictures.
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Texture
Brightly patterned
textiles are saturated
with creativity. Weave
indigo, turquoise,
natural greens, yellows,
and browns
for impact.
Image
22173790, Brand X
Pictures.
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PALETTE: Fiesta
PALETTE: Combinations
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