the creative process of madreselva
“I see beauty and wonder in fragments of nature”
Observing the lichen on a broken twig, finding an abandoned nest, holding decaying leaves… that is how the idea of a new work usually begins. Later, the creative process becomes an exploration of nature’s magnificence and vulnerability, accompanied by a profound sense of respect and gratefulness.
Madreselva is part of the series Of Women and Nature, a visual exploration that brings together the natural and feminine worlds. In these works, the imagery conveys concepts such as womanhood, femininity, motherhood, and Mother Nature, which are continuously intertwined, merged, and fused into one another.
The idea for this piece originated during a visit to the Montreal Botanical Garden in Canada. A small sketch of water lilies served as the starting point for the composition. Madreselva was created using the dip pen and ink drawing technique, which is slow, requires absolute concentration, and can be quite challenging at times. The entire creative process demands a great deal of patience, especially when working on large-scale pieces.
Madreselva is a combination of two Spanish words: madre (mother) and selva (rainforest / jungle).
Madreselva: 38 in h x 117 in w / 96.5 cm h x 297 cm w, private collection, shown at Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL .
Dip pen ink drawing on paper
