Diego Velazquez is a Spanish painter from the 17th century. His paintings are worldwide known and admired and we can find some of them in the most important museums as the National Gallery in London or the Art History Museum in Vienna.

But, maybe, his most popular work is “Las Meninas”, in El Prado museum, Madrid.

This is me!!

This painting represents the princess Margarita, king Felipe IV’s daughter, and her court. In the painting also appears Velazquez, working in other work.

The word ‘menina’, at the beginning, refers to the maid of waiting of queens and princess in the Spanish Court.

But nowadays, it is most popularly known as any woman or girl dressed in such a particular way.

The Meninas have inspired a lot of people and artists

Some as famous as …

Picasso or Dalí

And now, we will become artists. Let’s make our own meninas with Velazquez’s advice.

Let`s follow these steps:1.- Draw a pattern

Something like these:

2.- Choose the materials: different kind of paper, fabrics, ribbons, crayons, felt tip pens, feathers, stickers, glass beads …

And get to work!

Here you are some ideas