On Art
As a dual citizen from the US and Ecuador, with family in both parts of the world, traveling has been part of my life since an early age. Photography has gone hand in hand. I got my first camera at age five, (a small disposable film camera) when we visited the Galapagos Islands.
In 2017 during a family trip to Vietnam, and this time with a proper digital camera, I was fortunate to meet an American photojournalist who took us on a tour of Ho Chi Minh City. I learned the basics on light, color and composition. More importantly, I discovered that the best results often come from unexpected angles: whether it's from the ground up, through a chain-link fence, or in the middle of a traffic stop.
Since 2021, I have expanded my portfolio to include acrylic and oil painting, woodblock printing, and charcoal drawing. Drawing and painting has freed me from the constraints of photography, of having to be at a certain place at a given time. It has also taught me that the creative process is messy. The eraser is just as valuable as the pencil, it takes many tries to reach a final piece.
On Community Service
Through my community service projects, I have aimed to make a difference in the lives of families facing housing insecurity or homelessness.
Housing insecurity in the United States is a widespread issue impacting millions of people. By some estimates, 10% to 15% of households in most states face housing instability, with California having rates as high as 20%. Housing insecurity can result from high housing costs and is associated with poor housing quality, natural disasters, overcrowding, and homelessness.
“La vida no es la que uno vivió, sino la que uno recuerda, y cómo la recuerda para contarla.”
