There is a part of me that has always been drawn to bold colors and rich textures. As I have explored these preferences throughout my artistic journey, I have come to realize that they are deeply connected to my Colombian heritage, a culture filled with vibrant color, beautiful textiles, and artisan craftsmanship.

I create intuitively, and over time I have recognized how my cultural influences have been preserved through the things my mother loved, even though I was raised in America. Those influences often find their way into my work in unexpected ways.

Creating ocean reefs brings me tremendous joy because they allow me to fully embrace the bold colors and intriguing textures that inspire me. Each reef begins as an exploration and gradually becomes a story, one filled with unusual corals, sea plants, and colorful fish found in our oceans. I never seem to tire of creating these miniature underwater worlds bursting with texture, color, and wonder.

The piece shown above, Ocean’s Tapestry, was started at the beginning of May, and it took more than a month to complete. Every section became an opportunity to discover new combinations of texture and color while imagining the hidden beauty of life beneath the sea.

Also in mid-May, my husband and I traveled to South Florida to visit family. I was craving some beach time, and there is no better place to enjoy white sandy beaches and the brilliant Caribbean-blue waters. Along the way, we stopped at the beautiful aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia. It was an impressive experience and well worth the visit. I always enjoy visiting aquariums because they provide endless inspiration from the incredible variety of marine life to the fascinating reef environments they recreate.

As I worked on Ocean’s Tapestry, memories of that trip lingered in my mind, influencing the colors, textures, and sense of wonder that became woven into this underwater landscape.