Puzzling
Here's the thing - each puzzle is an homage to a human whose work I admire, but whose identity is only hinted at in each puzzle's clue-filled imagery.
I got the inspiration from a puzzle I bought that had many small areas of distinct patterns. I found it such a pleasure to complete that puzzle, I searched and searched for more like it. Then decided to start designing these.
This puzzle is an homage to a famous painter. Some of the cards in the puzzle show the short verse for that card - each with an interesting relationship to the artist's life and/or work. The patterns throughout are taken directly from objects and clothing the artist owned.
The next design is an homage to a famous filmmaker and takes inspiration from a period of Japanese woodblock printing called ukiyo-e.
I'm working on a third design now using Bauhaus as its visual inspiration and focused on an artist from the 1400's. It features a few lines the artist wrote which feel right at home with Bauhaus ethos. It's only about maybe a third of the way done in this image. But I'm so excited I wanted to share.
I have plans for two more - one using a cabinet of curiosities and victorian wallpaper designs to pay homage to a scientist and a fifth puzzle using pulp fiction covers as an inspiration for an American painter.
These puzzles have plenty oriented towards each of the four sides so puzzling with friends is more fun!
Each puzzle will include an insert illuminating the hints about the artist and sharing interesting nerdy bits about the artform featured.
I'm researching a good way to have these puzzles produced. I can't wait to get to share them and to solve them!
Here is the insert text for the Loteria puzzle:
Loteria is a game of chance, like bingo, with images rather than numbers and a deck of 54 cards rather than a set of 75 balls. A caller, or cantor, draws a card from the deck and announces it by name, sometimes reciting a short associated verse first.
This puzzle is an homage to a famous woman, with clues throughout the image. I’ve selected 24 cards from the traditional Loteria deck and used each of them to give a clue about their identity. Ten of the cards in the puzzle also show all or some of the short verse traditionally associated with that card.
Hints:
El Paraguas (the umbrella) - referencing a fateful accident in 1925, when she got off of one bus to look for the umbrella she’d left behind only to get on the next bus which was then struck by a trolley car.
La Mano (the hand) - from a photo of her from 1926, I’ve added a few of her rings from other, later photos
La Dama (the lady) “...el paso, por toda la calle real...her gait, all along the main street” - From a photo of her in the 1920’s, I've added a depiction of one of her medical corsets
El Diablito (the devil- unlabeled) - From a photo taken in 1931 of her and her husband with one of his collection of Judas effigies (only the Judas appears in this image)
La Luna (the moon- unlabeled) “El farol de los enamorados.The street lamp of lovers.” - from the painting “Self Portrait on the Border between Mexico and the United States of America”, 1932
La Rosa (the rose- unlabeled) “Rosita, Rosaura, ven que te quiero ahora. Rosita, Rosaura, come, as I want you here now.” - Image inspired by a wild rose from the painting “Self Portrait on the Border between Mexico and the United States of America”, 1932
La Muerta (death- unlabeled) - reference from the painting “The Four Inhabitants of Mexico City”, 1938
El Corazon (the heart - unlabeled) “No me extrañes corazón, que regreso en el camión. Do not miss me, sweetheart, I'll be back by bus.” - from the painting “The Two Fridas”, 1939
La Sandia (the watermelon) - image and text reference from the painting “The Bride Frightened at Seeing Life Opened” 1939-1943, (the text translates to “Who is afraid at seeing life opened?”)
El Catrin (the dandy) “...en la alameda, su bastón quería tirar...in the poplar grove, wanted to toss away his cane” - Referencing the painting "Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair", 1940, and her exploration of gender expression.
El Pajaro (the bird) - “Tu me traes a puros brincos, como pájaro en la rama.You have me hopping here and there, like a bird on a branch.” A berylline hummingbird, common in Mexico, sits on a thorn branch referencing the painting “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”, 1940
La Botella (the bottle) - It has been said that she drank a bottle of tequila every day to numb the pain from her injuries. The table in this image is inspired by her painting “The Wounded Table”, 1940
El Cotorro (the parrot) - reference from the painting “Me and My Parrots”, 1941
La Rana (the frog) - from the mosaic reflecting pool built below her studio window at her Casa Azul in 1941, which was inspired by her nickname for her husband, sapo-rana or toad-frog
La sirena (the siren) - from a photo of her with Chavela Vargas, the famous Mexican singer, taken in 1945. According to Vargas, they were lovers.
El Venado (the deer) “Saltando va buscando, pero no ve nada. Jumping it goes searching, but it doesn't see anything.” - reference from the painting “The Wounded Deer”, 1946
Las Jaras (the arrows) - reference from the painting “The Wounded Deer”, 1946
El Sol (the sun - unlabeled) “La cobija de los pobres.The blanket of the poor.” - reference from the painting “Sun and Life” 1947
La Estrella (the star) - reference to the red star of socialism she painted on her plaster torso cast in 1950
El Mélon & El Nopal (the melon and the prickly pear - unlabeled) - reference from the painting “Still-Life with Parrot and Flag”, 1951
La Bota (the boot) “Una bota igual que la otra. One boot the same as the other.” - the red prosthetic boot, she had made after her leg was amputated in 1953
El árbol (the tree) - referencing an uncertified painting of her in a tree signed with her name in the lower left corner
La Musica (the musician) - from a photo of her playing guitar
Bottle caps are sometimes used as tokens for playing Loteria - the letters on each of the bottle caps can be arranged to spell her last name.
All of the patterns are based on details from her clothes or home.