September of 2024
Amazing birthday week!
August of 2024
For my friend K, who is strong and wonderful and a fighter.
A couple of days ago we opened a can of worms she was keeping closed and hidden, and I did my best to contain the situation. Her strength and resilience amazes and inspires me in many ways.
December of 2023
November of 2023
August of 2023
June of 2023
May of 2023
I have just had an unforgettable week in Japan thanks to this man, our guide and new friend, Fuji 🌄 This is a thank-you and goodbye gift for him —a gentle, endearing personality with the patient of a saint and an unpredictable cheeky sense of humor. At first private and reserved, he soon delighted us with his outgoing and funny side. From his obvious discomfort and embarrassment at us speaking too loudly in public spaces (“behave!”), to his at times unpredictability dark sense of humor (“here, is there anyone back home you want to kill? Japanese knives, great quality! Cuts right through!”), his heartfelt advice (“if you lose your JR pass it’s a catastrophe!”) and his superhuman walking speed, always two blocks ahead of us.
Couldn’t have wished for a better person to guide my first Japanese adventure. We’ll miss you!!
September of 2022
August of 2022
If you ever consider befriending an 18-year-old keep in mind: they shed, they text in Morse and they prefer rocks and bushes over pizza and gelato.
June of 2022
When I went camping in California without knowing I was going camping… ⛺️
… and I ended up not only witnessing and enjoying some of the most beautiful natural landmarks I’ve ever known, but meeting a bunch of amazing people I had the privilege of sharing my first real camping experience ever with.
Strenuous to very strenuous hikes (depending on the tour guide in question), clear night skies full of constellations and zero light pollution, campfires, lost people on their way to/from the toilet, lots of laughter, a mix of accents and priceless, enriching conversation that fed both my mind and my spirit.
My heart has melted to many of you guys, making me feel like myself for the first time in a long while –and for that I’m so thankful.
I already miss you.
October of 2021
Parents and sister visit to one of my brothers, who recently started a new job in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Looking for a place to have dinner, our mom was leading the way. The way she wore her newly purchased tight winter hat on a mild autumn evening, and the determined tapping of her hiking sticks on the ground was a hilarious (and endearing) sight we definitely enjoyed witnessing.
We’re not perfect —we misunderstand each other, we fight, we sulk... But there’s no one in this world that loves me, accepts me and has my back the way they do.
May of 2020
April of 2020
Last Friday after lunch we found a baby crow standing below a tree. Its parents were going crazy just above it as a well known black cat stalked it very closely. I felt very sorry for the bird, spent half an hour trying to get in touch with the gardener in order to somehow put him back up on its nest. My colleagues kept walking right back to work.
Later on I found out this is a common sight among crows, as they sometimes push their own offspring off their nests to help them towards independence. They feed them from the ground until they’re able to make it on their own. I’m glad, because I didn’t want to become a mom to a bird.
December of 2019
Christmas present for K. That Mexican dinner by Lake Taupo.
August of 2019
“ There’s a wolf, a sheep and a “led-shooz” -
“Lead shoes? What… Why…?”
“Well, yeah… like, a wolf, a sheep and a led-shooz!”
(Based on my inability to pronounce the word “lettuce”)
“Ok, so if I take the chicken and leave the fox…” -
“What chicken? I didn’t say anything about a chicken. Stop adding characters to MY riddle!”
“Ah, I guess I just scottified it.”
“You take the lettuce, cross the portal to the other riddle dimension, leave it there with the fox and take the chicken to cross the portal back again to the sheep and the wolf…”
“What has a mouth but doesn’t speak and runs without legs?”
“A MAILBOX!”
“Yes, that’s it! Perfect, Marta.”
“But a mailbox doesn’t run!”
“Well, I guess it was a pretty stupid answer then, wasn’t it.”
January of 2019
Another birthday present for another friend.
Thinking about this moment automatically brings back all kinds of memories of last summer, without a doubt one of the most sweet, memorable summers of my life. In retrospect think I did make the best out of my days as a non-employed person in the limbo between university and work.
Original caption:
“Geburtstagsgeschenk für A.
After putting off finishing this drawing for seven months (!), finally she managed to emotionally blackmail me into getting it done given this special occasion.
23.06.2018, irgendwann spät nachmittags, 2. Tor gegen Schweden. Deutschland kommt also doch weiter in der WM.
One of the funniest and craziest moments of last year. I’d never seen —or heard, as many cochlear hair cells died that day— these people in such an exhilarated state and I don’t think I ever will again. Thanks to S., who dutifully fulfilled her task of going to the bathroom whenever we told her to, which somehow always seemed to magically invoke a goal for the team.
Alles alles Liebe und Gute zum Geburtstag, Ankipanks. Du bist ehrlich und stark wie nur wenige und es freut mich soooo sehr, dich als Freundin haben zu dürfen ♥️”
May of 2018
This was actually not my original idea, I was its mere illustrator. Nonetheless I’m very proud and fond of it and I count it as one of my favorites among my most recent artwork.
The result of one of the most fun and beautiful moments of 2018. Also a little mindblow that lasts to this day as to how someone can come up like something so sweet, original and witty in such a spontaneous fashion. Probably one of the endearingly gloomiest but also brightest minds I’ve come across.
According to my own experience, a lying position is best for coming up with funny ideas. Must have something to do with blood flow to the brain or something.
Original caption:
”Magical Onion Land - What’s It Gonna Be(et)?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Proudly presenting King Onion, Prince Shallot, Lucy Leek, Professor Garlic and, last but not least, the Chive Brothers.
All of them wonderfully creative non-GMO products of L’s ever self-excelling, mesmerizingly charming mental fun factory."
February of 2018
This is what happens when two spanish girls that have never performed any winter sports in their lives decide to change that by signing up for a weekend cross-country skiing course. My adductors still crack every once.
On the first day, my wet hands hurt so much from the icy wind I was afraid to remove my gloves thinking I might find a bunch or purple sticks where my fingers were supposed to be. The second day I spent more time (falling) on my butt than actually standing. And I also laughed like a psychiatric patient throughout the whole thing (which, however, doesn’t mean that I would do it again).
I’m so greatful for Marta and so happy we get to live in the same city after having met so many years ago. One of the funniest, most positive and smartest people I have in my life right now.
February of 2018
Based on a breakup (no sh*t), so I’m not sure this belongs in this gallery. I guess “Animals and Other Creatures” would have been a bit too harsh.
I remember feeling extremely emotional about this. I still dislike the fact that we have to go through these things in life but at the same time I do realize how it’s necessary to grow and mature and become stronger and more assertive. Still, despite everything, very beautiful memories attached and by now I could almost imagine a friendship if it wasn’t for the fact I have to idea where he is.
Original caption:
”A bit too dramatic, explicit and out-there (hence potential source of future embarrassment, no doubt) and definitely one-sided and somewhat simplistic, but accurate enough to serve as helpful mental narrative to collect oneself and healthily process and reduce ache and longing and fight self-sabotaging temptations and idealizations. My point: the heart is the MOST delicate, precious treasure. Without holding back, let’s not rush into giving it away too fast either (or before it’s fully recovered from previous damage, so that we don’t turn into emotional bulldozers to other people). Let’s trust ourselves and our gut feeling more (it’s there for a reason), let’s lose our hero complexes and and let’s know when to retreat before it’s too late. Free time art therapy. 🎵 ˢᴷᴵᴺ ᶜᴼᵛᴱᴿᴱᴰ ᴵᴺ ᴱᴳᴼ
ᴳᴱᵀ ᵀᴼ ᵀᴬᴸᴷᴵᴺ' ᴸᴵᴷᴱ ᵞᴬ ᴵᴺᵛᴼᴸᵛᴱᴰ,
ᴸᴵᴷᴱ ᴬ ᴿᴱᴮᴼᵁᴺᴰ
ᴳᴼᵀ ᴺᴼ ᴱᴺᴰ ᴳᴬᴹᴱ,
ᴳᴼᵀ ᴺᴼ ᴿᴱᴬˢᴼᴺ
ᴳᴼᵀ ᵀᴼ ˢᵀᴬᵞ ᴰᴼᵂᴺ,
ᴷᴵᴺᴰᴬ ᶠᴱᴱᴸᴵᴺᴳ ᴸᴵᴷᴱ ᵞᴼᵁ'ᴿᴱ ᵀᴿᵞᴺᴬ ᴳᴱᵀ ᴬᵂᴬᵞ ᶠᴿᴼᴹ ᴹᴱ
ᴵᶠ ᵞᴼᵁ ᴰᴼ, ᴵ ᵂᴼᴺ'ᵀ ᴹᴼᵛᴱ
ᴵ ᴬᴵᴺ'ᵀ ᴶᵁˢᵀ ᶜᴿᵞᴵᴺ' ᶠᴼᴿ ᴺᴼ ᴿᴱᴬˢᴼᴺ
ᴵ ᴬᴵᴺ'ᵀ ᴶᵁˢᵀ ᴾᴿᴬᵞᴵᴺ' ᶠᴼᴿ ᴺᴼ ᴿᴱᴬˢᴼᴺ
ᴵ ᴳᴵᵛᴱ ᵀᴴᴬᴺᴷˢ ᶠᴼᴿ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴰᴬᵞˢ,
ᶠᴼᴿ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴴᴼᵁᴿˢ ᴬᴺᴰ ᴬᴺᴼᵀᴴᴱᴿ ᵂᴬᵞ, 🎶 Kendrick Lamar & SZA - All The Stars”
November of 2017
Birthday present for my eldest cousin when she turned 30.
Original caption (Spanish):
“Felices 30 a la Prima Mayor, la Prima Suprema, la Superprima. La hermana mayor que nunca tuve (sin ofender a nadie). Gran persona, gran madre, gran hermana, gran amiga; la que tiene un corazón de oro y más paciencia que un santo. Perdona por los milenios de retraso pero, aunque tarde, por fin me llegó la inspiración ;)
Te quiero"
October of 2017
L, a wonderful friend I am thankful for every single day.
Original caption:
“Happy Birthday to one of the most wonderful creatures to ever walk the Earth 🎂🎈 When someone's heart is as golden as their hair you know you've found yourself a real treasure. Gorgeous both inside and out.
Pat on my back for whatever I did to meet her 5 years ago and whatever I've been doing to proudly keep her as my friend ever since. Nothing is as painful with her, nothing is as exciting and fun without her. Cheers to uniqueness, trust, and outbursts of hardcore dorkiness.
You are sweeter than your beloved macarons. 👩🏻❤️👩🏼Ich hab dich lieb, L.”
August of 2015
Birthday present for a beautiful italian friend. Such a creative, sweet, sensitive soul. One of those people it’s so easy to connect with.
Original caption (Italian, not that I speak it):
“Regalo di compleanno in ritardo per la mia italiana preferita: la più bella, fuori e dentro.”
March of 2017
Gift for my eldest cousin just cause he’d been giving me that “when are you going to draw me” for so long. It turned out to be extremely fun to draw. He definitely wasn’t expecting this. Still brings a smile to my face.
Original caption (Spanish):
Para mi primo enfermero favorito, H, que sin duda pasará a la historia por sus célebres citas, tales como:
–"¿Cuándo me haces una caricatura?"
–"A falta de una caricatura tuya me pongo esta foto."
–"Ah, claro. A él si le haces una caricatura y a mí no, ¿no?"
Tiempo: Casi todo el domingo
Herramientas: Tableta gráfica y mucha paciencia
March of 2017
Gift for one of my best spanish pals.
We signed up for this race that turned out more like a walk. There were so many people you couldn’t go faster than 3km/h. It was called Holi Run, based on the indian tradition, but it reminded me more of The Walking Dead instead. And that’s how you make a witty title (dum pass!)
Still enough to get holi dust all over my conjunctivas.
Original caption (Spanish):
“Basado en hechos reales.
Cuando se te llenan las conjuntivas de harina con colorantes y tu amiga ya te lo había advertido.
1,5 horas, Photoshop CS6
(*Aaaah, my eyes, my eyes!
*I told you to bring sunglasses)”
January of 2017
May of 2016
September of 2015
Expectations vs. Reality.
April of 2015
January of 2015
December of 2014
September of 2014
Once upon a time, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean…
I have such fond memories of most cruises. Somehow they always manage to deliver. There’s something about the comfortable isolation a big cruise ship provides that induces this extradimensional sense that serves as the ideal kind of milieu for stuff like these to happen. I hope you’re ok with me publishing this here, S, in case you ever stumble upon this page.
March of 2013