Dryads

Dryad by Tanya Torres, drawing 

Dryad by Tanya Torres, drawing 

These are some drawings to open the mind for new large paintings.

First, they will be paintings on tile for next week's Fiesta de Flores at the New York Botanical Garden.

These are from the sketch book, made to call on the dryad spirits for inspiration and a little push forward!

Sacred Garden: Her Spirit Remains (Behind the Yuca plant with Reinita and Coquí)

Yuca grows in this garden, visited by animals, guarded by the divine ancestors who inhabit the grayer shades of life within. Made of water, leaves, roots, she might be as green as the forest itself, or as blue as the evening sky. Or she might be transparent, like a veil. She is undoubtedly humid, and life grows out of her heart.

Reinita in the Garden (Sacred Garden)

Pencil on Rives BFK paper.

7.5" x 9.75"

12/26/2010

As a child, I loved reinitas. These little birds always flew around my house, and I used to love their yellow chests. I had not seen them for a long time, until today.

Today, this reinita seems to have penetrated the veil between my imaginary garden and El Yunque, the rain forest in Puerto Rico. Now I am inviting other animals into the garden: the Puerto Rican boa, the múcaro, the parrots, the bat, the iguana who is coming from La Mona to visit, the hummingbird, the guaraguao, and of course, the Coquí. They are bringing some Yuca into the garden, so we can grow it. The goddesses of el Yunque have agreed to visit as well.

Just Born (Sacred Garden)

Pencil on Rives BFK paper.

7.5" x 9.75"

12/26/2010

Just Born is part of the series Sacred Garden. This drawing of a mother holding her newborn baby —surrounded by leaves and vines and life— is inspired by the sacred moment of birth. Not all of us are able to have a natural birth, so I drew this for all moms who wish to re-imagine the moment they hold their newborn baby surrounded by all the bounty of nature, which holds mother and child, sustaining them, and protecting them as they are both born into their new life.

Praising Life

Yesterday, for my friend Luis Rodriguez, whose poem "Praise" inspired this image.

Drawings

Not too long ago, I felt like I was not having any fun being an artist. So I decided to play with ink.

Some drawings