Souvenir Tables

The process of my souvenir tables! They started off with plywood, were coated with spray paint, and then painted on with acrylic.

My first one is of a hot dog. It involves the clash of both cultures I am part of: El Salvadoran and American. Souvenirs in El Salvador are vibrant with color and have different subjects painted on them. I did tables (because it was my assignment) and decided to incorporate the El Salvadoran style with common American foods.

More tables to come!

Plywood Pupusas

 I have started the process of making the pupusas--El Salvador's traditional dish. I finished cutting them out from boards of plywood tonight. However, I still have to sand them, coat them with house paint, and paint the details with acrylic.

The pupusas after they have been cut out from boards of plywood.

After using the sanders to manipulate them into the shape I want them in, I take a sheet of 60 grit sandpaper to scrape off any leftover imperfections; I finish by using a sheet of 180 grit sandpaper to create a soft texture. Sometimes sandpaper can't even out all gaps, so I have started using wood filler, which is what the blotchy spots are on the wood.

They are painted with house paint so that the wood absorbs the paint to make it easier to paint the details over with acrylic.

While not completely finished, these are prototypes of what they begin to look like after being painted on with acrylic.

Forty-eight have been cut out and all are in a different stage of my process; I decided to give everyone at the table one serving of three, and when multiplied by 16 (family members), I get forty-eight.  

Items such as rice and liquids will be measured differently, but as to how, I am not sure yet. So stay tuned!