Why I love photography

Photography is a form of art where you paint a picture with a snapshot. If you ever heard the famous cliche, "pictures are worth a thousand words." It's true. You can tell so much with a single picture. I enjoy photogprahy because it's therapeutic, it's a form of self expression and because of all the good you can do with it. 

In a way, photography is my therapy. I have PTSD, I suffer from mild depression and anxiety. Taking photos is a great way to help me get my mind off of life's difficulties and concentrate on art, which relaxes my mind. I'm so thankful to be able to take photos and express myself creatively. 

Speaking of self expression, I like to use photography to express my creativity. There are countless stories you can tell with your camera and if you find the right shot, it's really meaningful because it's unique. You made something all your own. Some of my favorite art forms is nature photography and editorial peices. I love nature photography because nature is always changing and it always has beautiful scenes to offer. I love editorial photography because of the stories you can tell in one photo. For example, Henri Cartier-Bresson was a documentary photographer who was famous for taking candid pictures of his subjects. He was famous for taking pictures at the decisive moment. There's something natural about capturing photos in the moment. They're effortless and can tell a story with so many emotions. Editorial photography is also a great way to tell a story about an important cause. 

Editorial shots also tell stories for people who don't have a voice to tell them. I think it's a great idea to use photogprahy for the benefit of the community by doing volunteer work to help those people. For example, there are charities that help children get their education, who feed the hungry, and provide medical services for people who can't afford it. Sometimes these charities need someone to help them tell those stories and photography is a great way of doing so. I believe that volunteer photography is a great way of giving back to the community. I've been searching for different organizationd to volunteer for and have found countless of charities on InterAction-- a website that lists many charities for the public to search for. I hope to volunteer to some of these charities as s way to give back to the community and help others in need with my art. 

So, I really enjoy photography as an art. There is so many inspirations for photography as an art online and I look to other photographers to see what they're doing to be a better artist myself. This art is also a therapy for me as I pick up my camera each time to tell a story. It's a great way of expressing myself and I'm inspired by the good work that i can do eoth it. 

My Giant Portfolio

I recently just updated my blog to include two new widgets: Twitter and instagram. I'm pretty excited about it because I feel it makes it look more personal as you see a snapshot of everything on my sidebar. I started this blog with the intent to create a meaningful blog for girls, (and guys if they want) to read about health/beauty, art and travel-- A life style blog. Over the year I've written 55 blog posts and counting. I've linked my Twitter, Instagram, Behance and Facebook accounts to this blog and it's become a kind of portfolio of all the art i like to do.

I really like how my Facebook has turned out because I've followed many fine art groups on facebook and as I scroll down my feed I see so many beautiful paintings everytime I open up Facebook that I can't help but share them to my profile. Later when I scroll down my profile all you see is art works, colors and proportions of different sizes, embellish my page. It makes me feel like an art collector of sorts because of all the relaxing paintings I've found. You can see it here and message me on Facebook.

I even found an artist that i really like, David Shaub. He's like a modern day impressionist and I love how colorful and relaxing his peices are. 

I also really like how I can link my Instagram on here. I have a link in the overhead, but there is a widget that displays my recent Instagram photos in a gallery for all to see. Moreover, I've linked my Behance portfolio in the overhead to show photos of different categories that I've taken, like nature, black and white and documentary photos. I will be updating that one soon. 

So far I'm really proud of the portfolio I've made, even if no one reads my blogs or sees my photos. I hope to inspire others to tell their stories whether it be with words or images. Thanks for checking it out. 

My writing experience

Sometimes i have posts upon posts written in my queue waiting to be published. I will write them one or two weeks in advance as ideas just come to me out of no where.

When I'm sleeping.

.... When I'm eating

...........when I'm out for a walk 

.................when I'm writing 

Sometimes i fear that I'll run out of ideas for writing. And I do sometimes. I'll go months without a word in my mind. 

Then all of a sudden a spark happens!

I've gotten more ideas as the new year rolled around and I strive to write 1000 words at least. It's good for SEO.

This post is shorter though. I'm just writing because I don't want you to think that I'm posting things willy nilly. I just have so many ideas lines up and i want the meaningful audience to know about what I've written. 

It's good for the soul.

.... And my portfolio. 

When do you get writing inspiration? What are some ideas that come to mind at random? Maybe we can chat about some topics that interest you. Let me know in the comments. 

Leave me a message in my Facebook inbox so we can know each other better, here. 

Some of my favorite languages

Growing up i recall having conversations with my parents about languages. I recall my Spanish speaking dad explaining to me the similarities between the romance languages and how cool it would be to learn how to speak them. (Those obviously include Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Catalan)  

As for me, I'm currently trilingual. I grew up learning how to speak English in primary school in Florida. Then when I was seven, i met one friend whose parents became best friends with my parents and we grew up speaking Spanish at home. When I was 12 i taught myself how to read and write in Spanish. To solidify my studies i took a Spanish class in high school and later learned to actually speak Spanish after I graduated from high school on mission trips to Costa Rica. I didn't know how to speak a word of Spanish but I understood most if it. However, in order for me to do daily tasks like go to the grocery store, go to the bank, pay for my phone bill, i had to speak Spanish and it was very rewarding to come back home having accomplished the goal after four years if spending summers abroad to become fluent in a second language 

Then, i met some people in Costa Rica who like to learn other foreign languages like French, German and Portuguese. I became inspired to learn French and found tons of recourses online, Facebook groups, and language exchanges.

So i started to study French, German, Italian and other languages on Duolingo. I really like this recourse because I can spend as much time on it as i like to every day and I can return to it whenever the inspiration strikes to learn a language. It's convenient and it's free. 

Once i became more fluent with French, i moved on to other resources i found in my public library. The library has grammar books and audio discs to help me learn grammar and phrases in French. Finally, i moved on to Assimil to help me get through my B2 level and i bought the C1/C2 DALF book for native fluency. 

Language learning for me hasn't always been easy. Sometimes things in life come up and i have to postpone my studies for a later time to take care of other responsibilities. But i find that when I get bored, i end up browsing on Duolingo and start racking points to make conversations online from home. It's not very hard and it's a fun outlet i like to turn to to help me gain knowledge of other languages and cultures. I feel smarter for being more open minded to cultures that are different than my own and that's special. 

What are some of your favorite languages? What languages do you aspire to learn and how do you achieve these goals? Maybe we can chat about it some day. Even though I like to learn other foreign languages, i feel most comfortable speaking English, Spanish or French. 

So feel free to leave a comment or message me on Facebook, here 

Have a great day!

Why I love language learning

Currently, I speak English as my first language, Spanish at an advanced level and French at an intermediate to advanced level. I've dabbled in a few other languages like German, Dutch, Italian and Greek. I would like to learn a few more at an advanced level to be called a Polyglot. I think language learning is fun because I feel smarter than everyone else, I get to switch languages quickly in my head and I get to meet lots of people from other cultures on Facebook groups. 

I learned english in primary school in the U.S. and Spanish was always spoken at home; however, i didn't learn how to speak Spanish until I was about 12 or 13 years old when I began to teach myself how to read and write in Spanish. Then i took some courses in high school and traveled to Costa Rica in the summer time where I got cultural immersion. I felt culture clash, definitely because even though I knew how to read and write in Spanish I didn't know how to speak very well. Therefore, using the language in everyday life definitely helped me improve my verbal communication and get over my fear of speaking. 

In Costa Rica, i met quite a few people who like to learn other languages. I never thought about learning more than one language at a time but these people like to learn multiple. I decided to pick up French on my own and began studying on Duolingo and Pimsleure back in the States. 

As I taught myself French, i surely but steadily improved my grammar and communication. I found language partners on Facebook groups and on apps like Hello talk and Tandem. 

Then my curiosity grew as I realized there are approximately 6,500 languages in the world and I wanted to learn a few more. I wanted to be smarter than most and have fun switching languages in my head.

So I realized German is another language that a lot of people ask to exchange for and I decided I would give it a try. I'm still at a beginner level and would like to improve my skills in this language. 

I also really like getting to know other cultures. As i meet people from the comfort of my own home on Facebook groups, i don't have to travel to learn about other people. I've made friends, talked about food, scenery and customs from different countries 

Now I feel all that much more open to other cultures as I embrace my own. 

PTSD & anxiety update about my crappy life

I've noticed that when I take my medication for depression and anxiety my levels are lower and i can actually sleep. 

Usually i feel sad because I'm lonely or I don't know about mom. One piece of special advice a friend reminded me is that she is always in my heart, which is encouraging because it is true. She will always live on in my heart. 

Moreover, I'm not ready for close, personal relationships because I'm a piece of crap that misses out on nuances. I can't give 100% because I am not mentally or emotionally available. Until mom is found I fear I'm kind of spaced out. I can't do anything else because I've contacted the police and private investigators and they are searching with all the details I've given them. She's at a cold case. Faith is the only thing that gives me the light of hope to hold on. I could lose my mind not knowing what has happened to her. But all I can do is place it on God's hands and let him fight for me. (1 Peter 5:6-7; Exodus 14:14) 

I have many restless nights. Many times i toss and turn in bed thinking about what I've forgotten and remembering what used to be. By the time I realize the hour it's 2:15 a.m. and not 11 p.m. my medicine calms me down and helps me doze off to sleep. I usually stay asleep at that point but if I don't take it I will miss out on so much sleep and become a cranky pants. 

Speaking of cranky pants, I've been searching and searching for employment. I have student loans and debts to pay of.... Just like everyone else but no one is willing to take me. I feel like is so unfair. I can't take this too personal as dad says. Will anyone be willing to give me a job to help me pay off my college fees? I'm $800 under and need my official transcripts and my bachelor's diploma to prove my status and get into graduate school. I want to do documentary photogprahy.

I guess it's the system. Not to mention this pandemic and the Martial Law we're about to be swept under can make matters worse. I feel so sleepy. 

Most nights when i can't sleep, i realize i start to write a lot more. I've been writing more blogs and i have a book i want to write too. The only motivation i get out of it is if i approach it as a blog. Calling it a book is too formal and bores me, haha. It'll be a biography. People keep telling me to write about my life because I have a story to tell. Many times i thought my life was too boring to write about and so i never had anything to say when people asked me to talk about myself. I felt that was too humiliating. However, for the sake of being more relatable i will make a biogrophy. 

On another note, i want to write some novels. Those sound more attractive to me as i would write some Christian romance novels. However my romantic life is not where I want it to be. Obviously, there's no rush and i wouldn't blame him for leaving me especially if I'm in space all day. Honestly, i don't know what I'll do until they find my mom and i can have some closure. I was in love once but he left me. It's really a long story and not something I want to get into right now as I have so many problems in this life. I just need some closure and time to reflect. I know I have potential for so much more. 

Any ideas for some books? I like the idea of some romance novels, coming of age stories, singles adventures. It would be fun to invent some characters. There are some great free apps on the market, like Auctor, that help you invent characters. They are so specific it's eerie. 

Anyway, i digress. It's almost 3 a.m. and all I want to do is write. I might even make a photography book. Who knows. Any ideas? Suggestions are welcome. 

Sleep finally beacons... Good night 

a poem about my wedge high heels

Strapless, sandles, open toes 

Kitten heel, high heel, stiletto 

I love her style and i love her aesthetic 

But the wedge has won me over

One step, two step, three 

Firm step, sexy step, secure step

She's gotten me alot of compliments 

While her hieght will never beat 

The comfort of my favorite wedge 

I love my high heels

No matter how uncomfortable she might be

The things that make me happy

Here is a list of things that make me happy. When I think about them they become like sunshine in my heart radiating warmth, good feelings and memories. 

1.Fine art

2. Photography 

3. History

4. Renaissance time to be exact

5. Chocolate

6. Ice cream

7. French

8. Colombia

9. Puppies 

10. Coffee 

Have you thought about a list of things that make you happy? Maybe if you write them down and when you're having a bad day you can recall then in your mind to put a smile one your face. It's worth a try. Life is so shirt, why not smile more? 

Have a great day!

Why I love fine art

Art has always been a part of my life. From the moment I was old enough to hold a pencil I began writing. I had my first art kit when i was five and i illustrated my first art book in first grade. Art has always been an escape where life and academics demanded my attention. I love fine arts because it has always been with me, it relaxes me, and it makes me happy.

When my parents divorced, i turned to the fine arts to express myself. My aunt gave me my first easle with oil paints when i was a preteen and i filled canvases with portraits that expressed my angst. I used vibrant unnatural colors to call attention and distorted proportions to illustrate my feelings. 

As i moved into high school, i took art class for all four years. I recall art projects where we made funky self portraits, paper mâché masks, comic strips and photoshop animations. I have all those projects tucked away somewhere, to show you. Here are some images of some of my works in highschool. Art class was so much fun.

In college, I realized my love for writing but so many other problems in life whipping at my mind refused to let me concentrate on text for too long. I find it really hard to read amd concentrate because of my PTSD, so at the commencement of the pandemic 2020 i painted some canvases with landscapes of places i liked the most. This helped to relax me as I got through the rest of college as i finished all of my writing assignments. You can see some of my paintings here. 

Not only does art relax my mind, but it makes me happy. When I create, I feel like a better person for contributing something of my own into the world. I put my all into my art because I want it to be special, meaningful and authentic.

Some of my favorite art eras are the impressionist movement, art deco and neoclassical. I prefer the latter more so just for admiring it. The former two are realistic emotions i can capture and make my own on a canvas, haha.

Thanks for reading. Do you love art? If so leave me a comment or feel free to message me on Facebook, here.

Who would I interview dead or alive?

After long thought, i considered a few people that I would interview dead or alive. Some including famous people like Victor Hugo, Claude Monet or my mother. All of these people have their personal stories that the world would be willing to hear about but i would really like to sit down with one or some of them for a cup of coffee and and ask them questions about their self.

In the end, I would interview Claude Monet, my favorite impressionist painter, father of impressionism, and pioneer of plein air art.

So here is how the interview would go in my head:

We'd sit in a café in France, order some baguettes and some coffee, take out a couple of sketch pads, oil pastels, a tape recorder and a poloroid camera to document the moment. 

Here are my questions:

1. What got you thinking about plein air?

2.How did plein air painting affect your painting in comparison to studio art?

3. What were your favorite paints?

4. Of all of your landscapes, which was your favorite?

5. What painting would you ever paint over again? 

6. Who was your art inspiration? Why

7. If you were alive today, what playlist would you paint to?

8. How do you feel about being called the father of impressionism? What tips would you give to impressionist lovers now?

9. Which was your favorite landscape to paint, Paris, London or Netherlands?

10. What techniques would you use to mentally prepare yourself before painting a landscape? 

If anyone finds these questions interesting and wants to pretend to be Monet and answer these questions, i would be very amused and publish them in another blog post. 

P.s. the photos I used are not my own. They come from google images as I googled "Claude Monet".

How to be a good Christian

Honestly, I can't tell you because I feel like I am the worst of them. Sometimes I feel that I am a disappointment. Like i don't pray hard enough, like i don't believe enough, that I'm not good enough, that I'm not available enough for others. 

Partly, that's due to the trauma that my family experienced five years ago when my mother went missing. She has history of bipolarism and schizophrenia. She didn't know how loved she was. One day she was coming down from up north to visit my brother and I in Florida but her purse was found on the beach and her car was impounded on I95 with no trace of her. To this day we still dont know what has happened to her and i fear she has passed away. Everyday is a shock as i wake up to realizing that my mom is not here and I don't know how to internalize her absence. The only way I can stay calm is by faith in Jesus Christ that she is in his good hands. Even though I still feel like a failure of a Christian. Like people will point their fingers at me and judge my family because we don't know where my mom is. 

Everyday i feel alone with out her guidance. And after talking to and meeting some people around the world i realize that i have to fight for my own place in the world because no one else is going to do it for me. 

Dad is among the voices of comfort who speaks peace into my heart when he tells me. "You are good enough" Don't pay attention to those people who might judge you about your mother. You are a fighter and you're not fighting this battle alone. Just give it to God and know that even if she has passed she is with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:14

So that's what I do. I give it to the Lord and wait for closure to finally release my mom and let her live or rest in peace as she is meant to be. 

Even though I am a bad Christian, i keep playing worship songs on my guitar. I keep praying and i don't give up faith. I keep hoping, taking pictures and painting. I have to keep going for her and hope that i will see her again one day in the arms of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

There is a French saying that I found that rings true to where I am in life right now. <<Chacun voit midi à sa porte>> which literally means everyone sees afternoon at their door. It translates to everyone has their own way of seeing things in life. Or everyone's story is unique to their own. 

So this is my battle as i wake up to a new day. I share these experiences with you because I know we're all going through something but we're not alone. Giving up is not an option. 

Maranatha "Jesus is coming soon"