Poblano by Claire Christy-Tirado
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Claire grew up surrounded by the natural beauty and striking landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. She developed a love for making art at a young age, and is deeply inspired by the natural world and the visual expressions of time and history. Traveling with her husband and pursuing further studies in art history continue to inspire her work.
This piece was inspired by the artist’s husband who is a Mexican chef, and the beautiful traditions of Mexican food they’ve learned about through family meals. They see chiles as the heart of Mexican cuisine because of the versatility with which they are used to transform other foods into something that is distinctly Mexican. The poblano pepper is Claire’s favorite, so she wanted to capture the beauty of its form and color, while also depicting its seeded center as the heart of the chile. This represents the way chiles serve as one of the hearts of Mexican food and in a broader sense, how food and the kitchen is the heart of a home and a special place to share love, nourishment, and culture. The border surrounding the chile is inspired by the blue Mexican painted ceramics her mother-in-law has, which weave the flowers and leaves of the poblano together, conveying the sense of intertwinement and connection food can bring to a table and the comfort of a shared meal.
(IG: @c.easter.c)
Print: 10 x 10
Original: 16 x 16 colored pencil and gouache on paper
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Claire grew up surrounded by the natural beauty and striking landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. She developed a love for making art at a young age, and is deeply inspired by the natural world and the visual expressions of time and history. Traveling with her husband and pursuing further studies in art history continue to inspire her work.
This piece was inspired by the artist’s husband who is a Mexican chef, and the beautiful traditions of Mexican food they’ve learned about through family meals. They see chiles as the heart of Mexican cuisine because of the versatility with which they are used to transform other foods into something that is distinctly Mexican. The poblano pepper is Claire’s favorite, so she wanted to capture the beauty of its form and color, while also depicting its seeded center as the heart of the chile. This represents the way chiles serve as one of the hearts of Mexican food and in a broader sense, how food and the kitchen is the heart of a home and a special place to share love, nourishment, and culture. The border surrounding the chile is inspired by the blue Mexican painted ceramics her mother-in-law has, which weave the flowers and leaves of the poblano together, conveying the sense of intertwinement and connection food can bring to a table and the comfort of a shared meal.
(IG: @c.easter.c)
Print: 10 x 10
Original: 16 x 16 colored pencil and gouache on paper
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Claire grew up surrounded by the natural beauty and striking landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. She developed a love for making art at a young age, and is deeply inspired by the natural world and the visual expressions of time and history. Traveling with her husband and pursuing further studies in art history continue to inspire her work.
This piece was inspired by the artist’s husband who is a Mexican chef, and the beautiful traditions of Mexican food they’ve learned about through family meals. They see chiles as the heart of Mexican cuisine because of the versatility with which they are used to transform other foods into something that is distinctly Mexican. The poblano pepper is Claire’s favorite, so she wanted to capture the beauty of its form and color, while also depicting its seeded center as the heart of the chile. This represents the way chiles serve as one of the hearts of Mexican food and in a broader sense, how food and the kitchen is the heart of a home and a special place to share love, nourishment, and culture. The border surrounding the chile is inspired by the blue Mexican painted ceramics her mother-in-law has, which weave the flowers and leaves of the poblano together, conveying the sense of intertwinement and connection food can bring to a table and the comfort of a shared meal.
(IG: @c.easter.c)
Print: 10 x 10
Original: 16 x 16 colored pencil and gouache on paper