Q. Tell us about yourself and how you came to be an artist…

A. I’m based in Patagonia, Argentina, and I am a mother of two. I come from a big family of four siblings, and we used to travel all over the place when I was a child. We lived in several countries, and although it was exciting at first, during my teenage years, it became tough to leave my friends and my comfort zone. So, I held on to painting as a way of channeling all that movement and staying mentally sane. I never stopped painting since then.

Q. What is your creative process when starting a portrait?

A. I start with a photo shoot of the model, basically friends in their own homes. And then with that material, I go to the studio, select the chosen picture, and start working. I work fast, and on several paintings at the same time. I’m fast, firstly because when raising kids, there is not much time to waste; motherhood has definitely made me more efficient. Secondly, because I’m certain that when I overdo and overthink a painting, I totally mess it up. Music and mate are part of my rituals to get in the mood.

Q. What kind of relationship is at play in your work between the painter and the model ?

A. It's kind of a symbiosis. In fact, the foundation of the painting really
begins in my encounter with the model, and the quality of this bond reflects directly on the canvas.

Q. How Patagonia influences your practice ? 

A. I’m originally from Buenos Aires, but I belong in the mountains. It became clear to me then that the city was not for me, overstimulating with stuff I don't need. I felt like my practice could not grow in this environment. Nature, instead, gives me perspective, beauty, and the quietness I need to exist the way I intend. Here, I feel I can open my pores and let it all in. Maybe the only shell I need is a big, mushy wool sweater to go through the winter. Time is slower, and space is wider here.