A portrait. A story.
A place on your ofrenda.
Custom Memorial Retablos
Honor someone you love with a custom retablo from Haven Sandoval. Created from a favorite photograph, each hand-painted wooden piece celebrates the person behind the portrait. Their spirit. Their stories. And the details you’ll always remember.
A custom retablo to memorialize a loved one — stylized in the classic New Mexican and Día de los Muertos visual language.
The finished piece will honor the person’s likeness and life while integrating regional iconography and devotional format.
What you’ll receive:
A portrait-style retablo composition
Día de los Muertos elements: calavera or subtle sugar-skull stylization (if desired), marigold motifs, and integrated symbols per request.
New Mexican elements: Zia symbol, chiles, traditional motifs
Varnished finish to protect the surface.
Decisions to make (please specify)
Portrait source: a clear photo (front-facing works best)
Preferred color palette: traditional New Mexican earth tones (terra-cotta, warm sand, turquoise, deep indigo) or a brighter Día de los Muertos palette (vivid fuchsia, marigold orange, teal, gold accents). Or request a specific palette for your memorial.
Personal symbols to include: favorite flowers, objects, animals, hobbies, dates, or short text (name, birth–death years, a brief epithet or prayer). Indicate any religious iconography you prefer or wish to avoid.
Timeline and process
Draft sketch for approval: provided within 5–10 business days after receiving the photo and specifications.
Revisions: up to two small revisions to composition or color after the draft.
Completion: final painting completed within 3–5 weeks after sketch approval (varies by size and option chosen).
Shipping/pickup: local pickup in Santa Fe or insured shipping (shipping cost calculated separately).
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU:
Send a clear photo of your loved one.
Indicate choices for palette, stylization, symbols to include, preferred size, and any inscription.
Confirm any timeline needs so I can prioritize.
Made for your Día de los Muertos ofrenda and to keep close throughout the year.
Choose Your Size
Small · 5 × 7 inches · $100
A small, personal tribute for your ofrenda or a cherished corner of your home. Includes one portrait, a simple decorative background, and your loved one’s name.
Medium · 7 × 9 inches · $175
More room for their story. Includes one portrait, floral or decorative details, and a name or short dedication.
Large · 9 × 12 inches · $275
A larger tribute with space for meaningful imagery. Includes one portrait, a personalized background, and a name or short dedication.
Have a particular vision? Additional portraits and intricate details are priced individually.
Tell Me About Your Loved One
Their favorite flowers. The colors they wore. The place they called home. The little things that bring them back to you.
Along with your photograph, you’re invited to share a few memories to help shape your retablo. Beloved pets are welcome, too.
How It Works
1. Share your photograph and story.
Choose a clear photograph and tell me who you’d like to honor, your preferred size, and any details you have in mind.
2. We’ll confirm the details.
Before work begins, we’ll agree on the design, final price, and completion date.
3. Your retablo takes shape.
Your portrait is translated onto wood and painted by hand, with individual variations that make each piece its own.
Begin Your Commission
To inquire, email luminariaartstudionm@gmail.com with your photograph, preferred size, and the date you need your retablo.
For Día de los Muertos orders, please confirm availability before ordering.