SV Creates Portfolio

1. "Peace, Love, Hip Hop”, Photoshop, 11”x17”, September 2014. Poster for San Jose event promoting the peaceful, loving,  and fun nature of the origins of hip hop.

 

2. “Toxic Romance”, Photoshop, 8"x10", January 2014. Social awareness piece on topic of radiation from the Fukushima plant.

 

3. "Your Mind Will Set You Free”, Photoshop, 8"x10", December 2013. Social awareness piece on topic of Nelson Mandela’s legacy.

4. "Christmas Morning”, Photoshop, 8.5”x 11”, December 2013. Social awareness piece on topic of under privileged communities.

5. “Multicultural Thanksgiving”, Photoshop, 8.5”x 11”, November 2013. Social awareness piece on topic of multicultural holidays.

6. "East Side Halloween”, Photoshop, 11”x17”, October 2013. Social awareness piece on topic of under privileged communities.

7. “Abigail Promo” Book Cover, Photoshop, 8”x8”, September 2013. Cover design for anti bully book I wrote and illustrated.

 8. "Dia de los Muertos” Coloring Book 2014 Edition, Illustrator, 8.5”x 11”, October 2014. Children’s book celebrating Mexican culture.

Inking Sadness Continued

Hip Hop Poster

Some works in progress for a poster I'm working on for Future Arts Now.

Multicultural Mandala

The community mural we were sponsored to create by Kooltura Marketing at the Kraft Brew Fest in San Jose last weekend. Thank you Omar Rodriguez and Quynh Nguyen for allowing Roberto Romo, myself, and the community to collaborate with you on this multicultural project themed: Diversity.

Diversity Couch

Lounging after a hard day's work at the Kraft Brew Fest with Kooltura Marketing on the Diversity Couch. People were asked to add to the couch based on their definition of diversity.

KraftBrew Festival New Project

 

Kooltura Marketing:" Join me at the KraftBrew Fest in San Jose. Lets paint!

We are excited to be leading a Live Community Art Booth for tomorrow's KraftBrew Fest . Teaming up with local artists Elba Raquel Illustrations and Roberto Romo Lopez, we invite you to come and participate in this community art project on the topic of multiculturalism and community.

For tickets go to: http://kraftbrew.brownpapertickets.com/
#koolturamarketing #kraftbrewfest #kraftbrew2014 #svbeerweek"

Sadness in Ink

Circus Invitation

Circus invitation done last month. First attempt at text design! Challenging but fun.

Santo Ochoa

The design is finalized. I am investigating international and out of state shipping costs but for now I am ONLY selling to San Jose residents. If you can pick up your candle in San Jose I will be more than happy to sell you one. They will be ready on Friday, June 27, 2014. Send me a message or leave me comment.

Clowning Around

Clowning around with my sisters during last weekend's circus party. This is an interactive art piece I created to help set the mood and theme at the party.

Breaking Bad T-Shirts for Sale

Today I sold my 1st Breaking Bad T-shirt off my RedBubble Store: "The Evolution of Walter White."

Have you purchased your yet? Click on the link and get yours today.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/elbaraquel

Smoker's Temptation

This is the first backdrop to my cigarette nest project. Temptation can be deadly.

Cigarette Nest

Building my cigarette nest today. Tedious work!

"Abigail" Book Reading

I conducted an "Abigail" book reading for Mrs. Rodriquez's 1st grade class at Dove Hill Elementary School in San Jose, followed by an anti bullying art project. I had so much fin with teh kids and it was my first time reading my book to an audience.

Cigarette Inspiration

As I walk the city streets and see thousands of cigarette buds I ponder their destination.

Something new. Something more dimensional. Going to start today... wish me luck.

Calle 13 Poster

La Verdad / Photoshop

 

 

 

 

Calle 13 is a phenomenal band. Their lyrics are far from the meaningless rhymes that is trending on the radio these days. This poster was created as a gift to the band for their concert in San Jose, May 21st. I continue to praise the band for their honesty and dedication to raising awareness on issues that affect millions.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The great Colombian writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, left the physical world three and a half weeks ago on April 17th. His characters welcome him into their realm, the dimension of the immortal where he now resides.

Rebranding

Coming soon: A new ERA.

Yayo the Clown

My favorite little clown, my boy Yayo.

Athena

Athena Jaylene: too cute for words.

Athena Digital Sketch

Switching gears! Progress on a new project I started today. The beginning sketch of Athena, my niece. The only little girl that makes my heart skip a beat when I see her. Nieces are extensions of your heart through your siblings.

Pilcihua: My Aztec Name

Elba "Pilcihua" Raquel means dignified and noble woman.

Aztec Sketch

Meditative Sketch

Meditating on my Aztec name with a graphite self portrait sketch.

Wolverine? No. Robertorine!

As an artist Roberto Romo's approach towards his work is animalistic: intuitive and fierce. My tribute to his current success and promotional piece for his FB Cover Photo. "Robertorine"

Inspiration for my next piece: Wolverine

I was asked by artist Roberto Romo to create a promotional piece for him to use as his FB Cover Photo. This is my inspiration piece: and so far what I am quickly planning. But shhhhhhhh... let it be a surprise.

Forced Religion

The Mexican people were a rich civilization with their own beliefs, traditions, and ceremonies. When the Spanish invaded Mexico they not only killed them physically, but made sure all survivors were dead spiritually by forcing them (through torture devices) to abandon their practices and adopt the Catholic Religion. This painting represents how forced religion soon became the Mexican identity.  Today one of the largest concentration and most devote Catholics are Mexican. It is heartbreaking to see that the very victims of such heinous acts have opened their mind, body, and soul to Catholicism and transformed their culture identity into the very religion that was used to destroy their civilization.

Fields of Calzon

I've been working on this piece since 2013, when I heard about the horrible sexual assaults the immigrant women are enduring in the fields. It took me this long to complete because I wanted to get it right. For fear of deportation and being separated from their families, these innocent women face a wall. Many of them feel they have nowhere and no one to turn to. Please watch this FRONTLINE video "Rape in the Fields" and share this image so these women's struggles are heard and these perpetrators are divulged.

I've been through sexual harassment in the workplace. It is not easy to go through, even as a US citizen, and it is a trauma that affects you for the rest of your life. My heart goes out to these women.

Distracted Driver: The GPS

Driving with a GPS can be as dangerous as texting and driving if you are typing in your coordinates. A navigation app in your smartphone breaks the hands free law in California.

Save lives. Share and drive responsibly.

Immigration WIP

Just a sneak peek into my process for a new piece I am working on. Trying to get this done before the week is out.

Thirtsy Cailfornia

California is drinking it up!

Toxic Romance

Toxic Romance

March 11, 2011 there was a devastating 9.0 earthquake in Japan. March 14, 2011 the Fukushima nuclear plant exploded releasing toxic chemicals into the environment. Radiation continues to leak into our Pacific Ocean on a daily basis and many believe the radiation has hit the California coast. The government won't mention any of this because California is an economic giant for the USA and to have millions of people flee the state would be detrimental for the economy. After all, the government never measures a city's success by our happiness or health, it is always measured through our economy. I have been severely bothered by this considering that December 16th, 2013 SIMS, a recycling plant in RWC, was burning toxic fumes into the Bay Area air and not a single news report was heard all week. Think about it Californians... it was the week/ weekend before Christmas... why on Earth would the government tell us to stay indoors when that weekend is the highest grossing revenue week ALL YEAR? 

I present you my latest piece. Whether you believe it, ignore it, or not... here is my statement on the Fukushima radiation hitting California. The title of the piece is "Toxic Romance." Be safe. Be informed. Care.

Romance in the Making

Here is a sneak peak into the new piece I am making. A few color studies.

Happy New 2014!

May 2014 bring you all growth, prosperity, knowledge, and a lot of love. Thank you all for being so supportive of my art. I am so lucky to be able to do what I love, but your support makes this journey just that much more enjoyable. I am looking forward to sharing more projects with you all in 2014. Everyone enjoy your New Year!