Americana

Sometimes, inspiration strikes when I’m in the middle of another project so it has to wait. Sometimes, I’ll push off my new idea for so long that the inspiration for it packs its bags and leaves. This doesn’t slow me down, though, because the muse presents me with an endless stream of more ideas than I’ll ever be able to create in one lifetime.

Sometimes, despite being put on a back burner, an art idea persists. In 2024, I was inspired to draw a beautiful Hispanic woman draped in an American flag. I imagined having it all ready to go for the Fourth of July, but time got away from me. The holiday came and went and I decided to work on other things. The following year, the same thing happened.

This year, I finally did it, which worked out poetically because of the 250th anniversary of the United States. I named it Americana.

While the beautiful woman I drew turned out looking a bit more like Melania’s cousin than a Hispanic woman, her dignified, resolute posture is everything I was going for when I first caught the vision of her. She appears strong, vibrant and resilient—all the things I imagine myself to be on a good day.

Americana is listed at JodiArias.com. I drew it on heavy-stock paper sized a bit larger than my typical 9×12 inches. This piece is 11×14 inches. I used a combination of Prismacolor and RoseArt colored pencils, the two brands available from the commissary. The drawing is sealed with Advanced Colored Pencil Final Fixative, which will keep its bright colors true and prevent oxidation.

Despite my government’s multiple depraved attempts to kill me in years past, I’m not immune to warm patriotic feelings. Also, 250 years is something to be celebrated. I’ve been immersed in the spirit of patriotism more this year because these vibes were repeatedly invoked during my tens of hours spent working on Americana.

When my little brother was in first grade, he had to learn the lyrics to “Grand Old Flag” for a school assembly. He practiced over and over, which helped me learn the song, too. This year, I couldn’t help singing it while I decorated the library in red, white, and blue. Happy 250th, America!