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.

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.

Food Draw colorful inspiration from exotic foods like tropical fruits (papaya, guava, mango) or spicy peppers (jalapeños, chiles, habañeros). Image 22176127, Brand X Pictures.

Texture Brightly patterned textiles are saturated with creativity. Weave indigo, turquoise, natural greens, yellows, and browns for impact. Image 22173790, Brand X Pictures.

PALETTE: Fiesta

PALETTE: Combinations