Good morning hivers and creatives, yesterday was a really exceptional day. We tend to forget how simple and easy it is to feel at home again, better said: in the warmth of home. As a migrant I have learned to be grateful for all the times the matriarchs of my family told me: come and learn. Because without a doubt, where a Venezuelan is doing the right things, we are also showing a great part of our culture and values.

Once you are in tune with yourself and your purpose everything else step by step is aligned in your favor. In the midst of so much cold, I took the initiative to paint a flower a day, since September is the month of the first flower here in Chile, I have already painted 4, here you can see them, they are medium fast exercises that I do: the sunflower, pink lilies, roses, the ones that cost me the most so far the bird of paradise and lavender that calms me so much.

However, September is also the month of the Virgen del Valle, the patron saint of Eastern Venezuela, where I come from. For a long time I felt the desire to paint one, but for things of life, until 2 days ago my cousin arrived with the news that she was in the mass and she thought it was wonderful, she felt very emotional, saying that we would go the day of the Virgin, yesterday 8, I told her what I wanted to do and she said: come on, and we'll take it to bless her. So I gathered the materials and got down to work.

I painted during 12 hours distributed in 2 blocks, in total concentration painting the Virgin of the Valley, Patroness of the East. Although I did not paint the flower per day, I made many of them, big and small, both in the base and in her mantle, I also made some dots similar to pearls, jewel by which the virgin is recognized. I confess that I was very afraid of damaging her or that she would look strange, but I promised myself to know when to stop, especially on the face and hands since it is what I find most difficult.

So, I went ahead with the crown, the sky and the sea, I also added some maritime details at the bottom, since we are from the east coast, the beach and its goodness represents us. Try everything under the same color palette: the sand, the shells, the star and the seashell.

The funny thing is that I saw many references for the costume, although I wanted to highlight the colors of the flag: yellow, blue and red. Also, I wanted to highlight or at least awaken the tenderness in my works, because it is the reflection that I have been applying thanks to the art therapy in me, that's how I decided the colors of the dress.

Of course, between each brushstroke, I did an active meditation of gratitude. Because even though I don't talk to her much, I know my mom does. I also told her a lot about this path of giving more people the opportunity to apply art as an outlet, relaxation, therapy itself.

On the first day I stopped at about 3 am, because I said to myself: if you waste time watching things on the screen, why not take advantage of it in this way? Since I had the energy and time to do it, that's how I made the sketch, the color bases and I dedicated myself completely to the look and her face to generate tenderness and calmness. Because the ones I usually do are very marked or hard.

The next day was about fine tuning, adding details with minimal brushstrokes. Finally let it dry, and then sign it with my nephew and my cousin. Once ready, we went to the church, where the mass was directed to the tenderness and generosity of the mother's love, that she is in all of us and thanks to these meetings between countrymen we rescue our customs and love for the homeland, imagine my surprise when I heard that. As well as seeing the Virgin of the Valley in the church, full of red roses like the ones I painted in mine.

Undoubtedly it was a whole experience of love and visualization through art, so hivers as I always say, open yourself to new experiences, write by hand, paint, allow yourself some time for yourself, to empty your mind and fill your soul. Thank you if you made it this far. The photos were made with a redmi note and edited in canva. The materials used were: acrylic on canvas.

AFRIKA