THIS TIME LAST YEAR

                        

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________________ This time last year I was working on a project in Sugar Land Texas: A mural for the hall way leading to the restrooms of "Lupe's Tortillas" newest location.  Houstonians know these restaurants as tasty, kid friendly (sandbox in front of all the newer locations) and a great place to meet friends for drinks and to watch sporting events.

The photos included here are from a cell phone camera and will eventually be replaced with better images. The following is my personal "take" on the project, as I described it to the patron, and what I was trying to accomplish:

The story line is from "Pancho and The Cisco Kid".

A wanted poster at the far right announces the theme, and a slumbering sombrero-ed peon with his loaded burro tells the time of day.

The soldiers are French, for just a touch of historic relevance. There uniforms are distinctively period.

They (the three soldiers) are being entertained by a mariachi playing guitar. The very flamboyant guitar player is Pancho. All three soldiers are distracted as a mysterious figure is sneaking munitions from the loaded burro's baggage.

Two women (mother and daughter) are on the ground  making tortillas. The young senorita is making eyes at the youngest soldier and he is blushing in response.  The mother is obviously annoyed.  A mountain village and dessert landscape are the back ground. This scene ends at the Women's room doorway. 

The doorway is Incorporated in the architecture of a Villa with cracked plaster and continues to the next scene where The Cisco Kid, is reaching around the corner to break off a flower from a potted rose.  Two attractive young ladies, in formal dress, are watching Cisco from across the court yard. as his efforts are obviously for one of them.

A short wall and alley are behind them with a Mission Church in the immediate back ground and mountains behind.   The Men's room door ends the sequence and it is also worked into the architecture of the courtyard.

The tone and temperament is deliberately Romantic- Adventure- Comedy. This situation seemed to have a more significant amount of drama (and therefore humor) than a  simple array of unconnected characters.

I was looking for a scheme that would develop some mystery, intrigue, and a lot of opportunity for expressions and humorous situations. I was very inspired and  grinning  from the time I started this sequence. I was particularly looking for a way to tell a story that would appeal on many levels and  to all age groups and assumed this was good ground since Disney has been using this type of historic romantic theme so successfully.  (I was also enjoying the idea of painting other themes for other restaurants, such as Zorro, or a funny look at The Spanish Explorers)

Comments

[Patrick Weathers]

Well...Uncle Ronnie...your patrons certainly got a bargain on this one.

This work is beyond Disneyesque. It's more like a "People's" retablo.

[Brian Wilson aka Christian Stone]

Great site "old" buddy! Who'd a thunk it back at JCJC that we'd even know what a computer was, much less own one. Internet? Didn't that have something to do with a vollyball net, fishing net, hair net, or some other net like that? I hope you're doing well my friend, keep in touch!