Arizona Lottery tickets get makeover from local artist

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - "I kind of gave out a little 'Grito,' which is a little yell, which is pretty exciting," Emily Costello said. "I almost felt like as if I wont the lottery because I know the competition was really tough."

Emily Costello remembers the time last year when she received a call from the Arizona Lottery. Her artwork was selected to be featured on scratch-offs across the state.

"I love what I do for a living, but it's good to know that people embrace it as well, and you know, when people pick up those tickets and they see them and they smile at the artwork and pick them just because of the artwork, it makes me really happy," she said.

Costello's inspiration is her Mexican heritage and growing up in the desert.

Chris Rodgers with Arizona Lottery says it was important to create a ticket that represents Arizona.

"Our goal was really to get some input from the local arts community so that we can develop something that's very Arizona-themed," he said.

Due to successful "Day of the Dead" scratcher ticket, the Arizona Lottery has decided to continue to work with Costello.

The self-taught artist was recently named the first local artist on residence for fiscal year 2019.

"I'm really excited to be working with the lottery again and collaborating with them, coming up with the whole new theme," Costello said.

Costello's art will appear on lottery tickets this August, and Rodgers hopes that Arizona-themed tickets will stick around for awhile.

"We hope that it's the beginning of building stronger ties to the local community," he said.