THE OLD ALEBRIJES AND THE HORSE IN PROGRESS

 HELLO!

Welcome to another weekly post.

This time I want to share old and new work, so I am going with the chronological order.

During 2016 I started to do wall calendars and I did a great job with them for around 4 years till the printer store closed, but let's focus in this: THE ALEBRIJES.

Out of the blue, I started to work 12 alebrijes as part of the design of a wall calendar, but at the end I decided not to go with them as they were not really my style and most of them look like little fantastical monsters (yes, alebrijes can be seen like that)...there is not good or bad, ugly or beauty, I just felt they were not into my vibe anymore and more into Valeria's super old vibe.  I think I just got along the idea of alebrijes as strange animals and the experimentation of the botanical.

Funny thing is, if I decide now to work with alebrijes, they would be a totally different style and I love the idea of it, because in my imagination I can see a big change in my concepto of design, but I will not work with that for the moment.

Anyways! I found the old illustrations and it would be amazing if they finally could find a new home. I am selling those as individual pieces, they were made with acrylic and on cotton paper, 300 grs and you can find them HERE.

I will remember them as part of my explorative art and as a memory of my process of transmutation where I started to be more discerning about what I want to communicate with my art and the way I do this.

I love the meaning of the alebrijes and I hope some day bringing them to life at this Valeria new style.

ALEBRIJES: Are vibrant, fantastic sculptures that originated in Mexico, blending elements from different animals and sometimes incorporating imaginary features. They are a form of Mexican folk art, often made from wood or paper mache, and are known for their bright colors and intricate patterns. Beyond their artistic value, alebrijes are also seen as having spiritual significance, sometimes considered spirit guides or protectors.

They symbolize rebirth, healing, and the vibrancy of Latino culture, and are believed to guide souls in the afterlife. Alebrijes, especially the monsters, have gained a reputation for "scaring away bad spirits" and protecting the home.

And now back to the new...

I am so pleased so far with the advances, the color palette and the composition, Although the color palette is not very much my style of the colors I used during the summer, I feel that this painting would have been perfect for October or November because of the types of earth colors, oranges, and browns, it would go more with the fall season, but well, for the moment I am happy with what I am doing and I love it.

Also, this piece came at an opportune moment, which was Father's Day, it was what connected me with my dad. So, this is the horse that made me work on memories with my dad and that's why it's the result of this image more than with a season of the year or a color palette. 

This week I have been working with pressed nature for guitar picks and also earrings, I did these earrings with samara seeds from maple tree, I think they look like little fairy wings. I have sold several pieces and I just have one pair left. I have many more designs of floral earrings HERE

I have retaken the walks around the neighborhood, and I found the perfect duo color leaf while I was walking, isn’t this amazing? love it! Also I can't  get off my eyes of juniper every time I see it, this time it was beautiful with the dew drops.

TO EAT: Last Saturday finally I did sushi, the last time I did sushi rolls was maybe 2019, so I went with the easiest vegetarian recipe, CALIFORNIA ROLLS and you can find it HERE.

TO LISTEN: I like the song "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi, but I just found the cover by one of my favorite violinist DAVID GARRETT, and turned out amazing like every song he plays.

Have a fun weekend and amazing new week, see you in July!

Love! ❤️ 

Valeria.

SKETCHING A HORSE AND THINKING ABOUT MY PARENTS

 Hello dear readers, happy weekend!

Here I am again with another sketch, this time I am working with a horse from my bucket list and I have sketched a horse with flowers. I'm 'flowerizing" everything and I love it. I have been working re decorating my studio and Im building a garland for my window, so far I have the eucalyptus leaves with white gardenias but I will add more flowers and herbs.

I have the photos plant, or Julieta as my mom call it.

This week has been very reflective about different aspects about life, I have been thinking the most about my parents and the way I see them now, how some times we can perceive them in different ways and how this affect us as kids, adults and the way we live.

I could write million of things, full of colors and emotions, I am still learning, discovering new things and healing others, but the only thing that I feel it's infinite gratitud for every lesson, and how creative my dad was and how artistic my mom is. Definitely they made art of me LOL. 😂 😜 

Working with the horses always connects me with my dad, but this time I have been thinking a lot about my mom and the amazing time we had the las time in December and I spent the time daydreaming about what would we do if she could be here as I hope she can visit soon for first time since I moved to St. Louis in 2019.

Anyway! I so happy with my new sketch and I know this new painting will be epic and full of emotions.

TO DO: Hug your parents! appreciate them since your higher self with infinite love and compassion. 

Love! ❤️ 

CHAOS AND GRACE

 HELLO & WELCOME!

Another Saturday, another art section.

Im so happy because my painting Chaos & Grace it's finished and I am very happy with it.

I started this painting basically inspired in the beauty of white swans, to me, swans have been almost as an equivalent as unicorns, they look almost surreal and since child I pictured them as fantastical creatures with those long necks making heart shapes when they are with a partner, I love those big white heavenly feathers, I never saw real swans when I was a child, only in books, cartoons and paintings where they appeared in beautiful dreamy landscapes.

I’m not sure when it was the first time I saw a real swan… maybe a few years ago here in St. Louis when I visited a local park.

This painting is a striking fusion of realism and abstraction, rendered with oil and acrylic that blend together to create a visually rich and emotionally evocative scene. I have enjoyed the time and process of this painting during cloudy and rainy days after several tornado alerts and a devastating tornado we had in the city.

It's funny how every time I do a painting, the painting becomes part of my reality, for example when I was working with this, I was feeling very distracted and annoyed on my studio, I felt I needed to put order, clean, make space, re decorate, but it was not happening only in my studio but also my emotions. I felt chaotic, like the background of my painting, with feelings scattered everywhere in the air.

In a way, I knew while I was painting, that this had to be happening in order to discover and work with my inner chaos.

So I let the paintbrushes to dance.

This is the first abstract painting that I plan, every brushstroke it's planned, every color, every line. Why? Because this was my way to control and to put order to the chaos. I worked by sections of 9 squares, painting one by one, the chaos has to be perfect even in the mess.

But here comes Grace…

At its heart is a graceful white swan, painted with lifelike detail—its feathers rendered in delicate, layered brushstrokes that capture the softness and purity of its plumage. The swan's elegant neck curves with poised dignity, and its wings are slightly raised, suggesting movement, power, and poise. I like to think I am the swan, I'm the only one who can change or embrace the chaos and go through it with grace, calm and gentleness.

The background contrasts boldly with the realism of the swan. It's an expressive, abstract mix of vivid colors and loose, painterly gestures. Large, blooming flowers in shades of magenta, crimson, buttery yellow, and deep green seem to emerge from the canvas, merging with splashes, drips, and bold brushwork that give the piece a sense of modern spontaneity. There are ink-like black splatters and swirling lines that add dynamic energy and texture to the piece.

The swan floats on a reflective surface, anchoring the composition in calmness amid the visual chaos—symbolizing serenity, beauty within disorder, or perhaps the persistence of grace in a turbulent world.

This work is both dynamic and contemporary, inviting you into a dreamlike space where natural elegance meets abstract emotion.

At the end, I have embraced chaos, I have played with it turning it into art, I have given it a place, order and meaning.

Chaos reveals how little we truly control. Plans can collapse, people can change, and life can shift in an instant.

From natural disasters to personal breakdowns, chaos often destroys old systems, ideas, or relationships. But that destruction can be the soil for something new and better: 

• New growth after loss. 

• Reinvention of identity. 

• Innovation through necessity

Our Reactions Shape Reality 

• The universe itself began in chaos. 

• Many spiritual traditions see chaos as the womb of possibility.

It reminds us that order and chaos are not enemies, they are partners in transformation.

Chaos itself is neutral—it’s our response that defines whether it becomes a crisis or a transformation: 

• Some grow stronger through adversity. 

• Others get stuck resisting change.

Learning to pause, reflect, and act wisely in chaos builds resilience.

Emotions Are Messy but Meaningful

Chaos in our inner world—grief, confusion, anxiety—shows us what matters: 

• What we fear losing. 

• Where we've outgrown something. 

• What truths we've been avoiding.

Impermanence is Real

Chaos breaks attachments. It reminds us: 

• Life is always moving. 

• Nothing lasts forever—pain, joy, love, or loss.

This awareness can help us live more fully in the present.

“From chaos, life stirs; from life, art speaks".

My painting it's available for purchase HERE

These week has been so nourishing and I have new insights, new ways to see life that I like, also I have found inner strength and tools to have emotional support to.

In other news...I visited again the Science Center of St. Louis, I didn’t took many pictures as I have been bore so I did just a quick, but here some about one of the main entrances, shoes and birds.

TO MAKE: This week I made natural vegetarian sunscreen and I just love it, plus smells delicious!

I followed this video, but instead tallow I added extra coconut oil.

TO LISTEN:  Ahhh! I have been listening "Another chance" by Roger Sanchez many times lately. I always loved this song since was released, but watching the video makes me realize how much I identify with the girl and how difficult can the world be when we feel to much, how people can make us love
"bigger and brighter" and put all into it that its so visible to the world too and also how people can makes us feel smaller, hiding to protect our feelings, the pain of disappointment and the fear of being real and being rejected.

I loved that at the end the girl keeps a big heart, I see it as a personal message too: What matters to me is to be courageous, show a open heart specially TO MYSELF and carry hope with even after pain. This is a big message of SELF LOVE and authenticity, so...this song that I love has won extra points and now that I think it's also about chaos and grace. ALL CONNECTED!

TO WATCH:  You can watch my video Chaos and Grace where i paint from beginning to end.

EMBRACE YOUR CHAOS AND GRACE!