I was asked to create a Mexican cantina for a friend who drives his wonderful race cars, for Jade Pig Racing, in the annual Carrerra PanAmericana Cross Country Road Race in Mexico.
I envisioned The Smoking Iguana Cantina as a fanciful and peaceful oasis surrounded by the desert vistas of central Mexico, just 2k outside of the fictional village of Porco Verde.
This project consists of four main murals inside the cantina, three of which are framed by Mexican tiles. On the cantina's exterior are two smaller murals. Trompe l'oeil wooden beams, woodwork, and planked doors were painted, while the exterior walls and a small kitchen area were clad with a faux finish of aged plaster.
Starting with a blank canvas of off-white walls, the project took nearly nine months to complete; approximately 25-30 hours per week.
Detail of tequila cactus.
Mural #2
View of desert mesa looking to the north with socorro cactus, tequila cactus, and brush grasses. Arches framed with Mexican tiles.
Approx. 50x108 in.
Detail of socorro cactus. On-site viewers comment that you have to touch it to see if it will prick you. As an artist, this kind of comment is an ultimate "payoff."
Mural #3
View looking south out the window. Displays road leading to Porco Verde, with socorro and tequila cactus, rocks, brush, and desert.
Approx. 50x108 in.
Detail of Mexican tiles on arch of mural.
Detail of faux finish on wall around Mural #3.
Mural #4
View looking west onto veranda and deck, with "the only tree in Porco Verde."
Approx. 90x108 in.
Detail of Mural #4
Detail of Mural #4
Detail of Mural #4 area.
Shows faux finish wall and trompe l'oeil beams.
Detail of progress on Mural #4
Mural #4
Final setting.
Trompe l'oeil planked doors.
Detail of Doors.
Trompe l'oeil banner painted onto one of the double doors leading into wine cellar.
Translation:
"Age Gets Better With Wine."
Trompe l'oeil beams and faux finish on wall around exit door.
Finished interior.
Outside of The Smoking Iguana Cantina; front view.
Exterior door of cantina. Plaster with faux finish and trompe l'oeil plank doors with Mexican tiles.
Detail of door.
Detail of Jade Pig Racing boar logo.
Detail of plaster faux finish and trompe l'oeil wood work.
Small mural of life-sized senorita upper right balcony.
Window box created from styrofoam and plaster.
Small mural of (human-life-sized) Smoking Iguana.
Window box created from styrofoam and plaster.
