Aztec

I cannot remember the first time that I saw the original paintings, or where I came into contact with them. But I do remember the impact that these images had on me was one of needing to find out more about this great culture. And to collect and restore as many of the original paintings as I possibly could. The two books, the only two of their kind that I know of, the ‘Codex Fejervary-Mayer’ and the second book titled ‘Codex Laud’ are the two books I have been working from to restore these paintings. The original images were painted on deer hide about 30cm x 30cm and then made into a foldout book. The paintings represent the way of life of the Aztec people as depicted by priests and artists of the time.

There were many of these books in existence prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Unfortunately many of these books and others like them were destroyed. The restoration of these pictures involves the use of computer technology, Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. I have tried to restore the images to their original design and colour as close as possible using the original paintings as a reference. The only change has been in the size of the paintings which I feel are much more interesting visually in a larger format. The size does not impact the profound meaning of the culture that these paintings represent.