What Really is a Latino Color Scheme?

[Cristina Acosta]

I posted a piece on my blog, www.Color Conversations.com about the perception of Hispanic/Chicana color palettes and how it's affected me personally as a Latina artist. Here's an excerpt:
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"It’s easy to stereotype a culture with a particular color palette, and Hispanic cultures, like Mexico are often seen by Northern neighbors through a lens saturated with color. The tint of that lens, saturated with stereotypes can limit the perceptions within one’s gaze. It’s not always a bad thing. A stereotype exists because it identifies a characteristic, sometimes with a negative view and sometimes with a positive view. The problem with stereotypes happens when the stereotype overrides reality.

The irony for me being an acculturated Latina born in Los Angeles is that I know that though Anglos from many cultures have representative crafts saturated with color, like Polish paper-cuts or Scandinavian tole painting, American Anglos will often focus on the colorful aspects of Mexican American visual culture while ignoring most of the subtle colors that are part of the same mix.

During the late 1990’s and early 2000’s when I was actively promoting my licensed line of signature home decor design, I was often perplexed and baffled when potential clients would turn down my line with comments that the colors were too bright. Especially when these same manufacturing companies were already heavily promoting the work of Anglo artists renowned for bright colors such as Laurel Birch, Susan Sargent and Mary Engelbreit.

To this day, there are no Latina visual artists licensing their decor lines at the supported level of acceptance any of the above Anglo artists have achieved. . . . Read More
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I'd love to hear from any other artists out there who have had experiences related to mine.
Saludos,
Cristina

[Cristina Acosta]

Yea! I wish you success with your new product line. I'm glad you were able to make progress in licensing. Good for you! When you're ready, I'd love to hear your story.
C

[Crafty Chica]

Hi Cristina! I have a new product line going into major chain retailers. I can relate! I'd be glad to share my story with you! I'm by far, not at the level of ME, but baby steps, right? I have your book and love it!!! As well as you Color Conversations blog!