Vanity - Lady Death painting * Carlos Cartagena * 15

"Vanity"

2023 painting from fine artist & illustrator Carlos Cartagena

Acrylic on Strathmore illustration board. 15" x 20" and varnished for protection. Signed Cartagena 2023

Inspired by Lady Death, Cartagena interpretation of Lady Death in all her Vanity!

Carlos said its 80% DRYBRUSH and 20% airbrush.

WHO IS CARLOS CARTAGENA?
Just in case you don't know Carlos Cartagena is originally from Guatemala, but migrated to the Unites States in 1981. By 1990, Carlos was working as an illustrator for a sign company. Completely self-taught. In the 90s, he made a name on the Sunset Strip airbrushing leather jackets and custom award winning Harley-Davidson artwork on bikes. His work was beginning to reflect "his" sexy pin–up style and sometimes erotic, but always in good taste. He consequently landed the covers of Easyriders & Hot Bike Magazines.

In 1997 Mark Buck, the founder of Slap-On Decals, a company that manufactured, big size, high-quality, sexy pin-up decals to be applied to surfboards, car windows, skateboards, snowboards, and so on, commissioned Carlos and this recognition garnered Carlos International Success throughout Europe and beyond.

Hugh Hefner loved his work and Carlos was commissioned by Playboy Magazine. Carlos illustrations were regulars in publications: Hooters, Playboy, Penthouse, Mystique Magazine, Femme Fatales and more. Charles Martignette and Louis K. Meisel also exhibited his work for many years. Carlos has been published in too many pinup art books to mention.

Carlos is also credited as the artist that helped the late Armando Huerta transition from Mexico to California and get him settled to stay since Huerta didn't speak any English. Carlos removed himself from the spotlight to focus on family and commercial work, but missed making pinups for all of his fans. So HE IS BACK! And I am now scheduling commissions. Carlos can paint just about anything. So contact me if you want to learn more. He is now focusing on comic illustrations and of course....Classic Pinup.