Isabel
Mendoza
Straw Cuadras (Paintings)
 The
land called Mexico has many moods and faces. Without a doubt, Mexico is
steeped in ancient Indian lore, seasoned with Spanish colonial customs.
The array of folk art and crafts in Mexico is simply mind-boggling. Each
region of Mexico has its own specialty, with villagers maintaining the
traditions handed down from countless generations.
 One
traditional art form is straw art (painting with straw) developed by Isabel
Mendoza's grandfather. Like her grandfather, Isabel
takes ordinary wild straw, colors it, and then creates typical scenes
of the Mexico peasants, campesinos, in their villages or in the
country-side.
 As
with many art forms, patience is the most desirable attribute for a master
of straw but Isabel says she enjoys all the parts that go together toward
making the final art piece. She purchases the wild straw that grows in
the mountains of Jalisco from men who have hiked into the mountains to
collect it. Selecting the right size and thickness is crucial to the final
outcome of the cuadra (painting). The leaves, dirt, and thorns
are then removed and the straw is put into an acid bath to allow dye absorption.
Next, the straw must
be dyed with insect or vegetable dyes. Dyes are made from the natural-found
substances shown below. Pulverized and mixed with water, each becomes
a unique color used in straw art.
Dye
Legend |
| Beige |
Canyaigre dock root |
| Blue |
Lupin flower |
| Brown |
Gambel oak bark |
| Green |
Sargo brush |
| Orange Yellow |
onion skin |
| Olive Green |
Red onion skin |
| Pink |
Sumac Berries |
| Red/Orange |
Alder bark |
| Tan |
Rabbit brush |
| White |
Cactus flower |
| Yellow |
Small snake weed |
| Red |
Chinchilla insect |
Next, the design
is sketched on paper or cardboard. The beeswax is purified by boiling
and straining it to eliminate impure particles and then a thin coat is
lightly spread over the design.
Then the straw is
gently placed on the wax piece by tiny piece and cut with a tool similar
to an Exacto blade. The straw crisscrosses in several directions which
provides texture and detail to the painting. Crisscrossing prevents the
straw from tumbling off if the beeswax should dry. One square inch has
approximately one to five hundred pieces of straw.
 It
is a challenge to create a subject that sells well. In Galería
Maestros del Arte, the subject matter that sells fastest are "people."
The best selling are Isabel's bullfighters, mariachis and dancers because
the detail and colors are so compelling. She also creates landscapes,
scenes from the pueblo, churches, etc. When people admire her work, this
gentle woman smiles a broad smile. It means a great deal to her that his
hard work is appreciated.
If you are interested
in purchasing some of Isabel's work, call Marianne Carlson at 011522 376
765 7485 or email mariannecarlson@gmail.com
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