Paper as a Canvas: Weaving Nature, Travel, and Storytelling into Art

Paper has become one of my favorite mediums to experiment with. Beyond being an affordable material, paper is incredibly versatile and adaptable. Starting with papercutting, I gradually ventured into creating pop-up structures to add three-dimensional effects to my work. Later, I explored bookbinding, incorporating techniques that expanded my practice into an interdisciplinary art form. This ever-evolving journey has solidified paper as my favorite artistic medium.

Solar Eclipse, 2024. Crafted with Japanese paper, intervened cardstock and magazine paper, and cyanotype.

My Process

I find inspiration and materials for my art everywhere! From general arts and craft stores to specialty shops, I’m always on the lookout for different kinds of paper. Everything from basic cardstock to handmade varieties has a place in my work. I also enjoy collecting used paper—newspapers, magazines, wrapping paper, and old books.
Repurposing used paper is especially rewarding because it allows me to add unique textures and colors. Using stencils, sponges, acrylics, pastels, gel plates, and other materials, I transform these scraps into new, vibrant pieces. This step is always a bit messy but endlessly fun and creative.

Nature and Colors

Integrating nature into my work is central to my creative process and often serves as a recurring theme. I often forage for flowers and leaves on walks to press them and use them in collages and cyanotypes, or repurpose food scraps to create natural dyes. For example, onion skins, avocado pits, turmeric, and paprika yield beautiful, earthy tones.
Another technique I love is eco-printing, which transfers the patterns of flowers and leaves directly onto paper, resulting in organically shaped, one-of-a-kind images. These methods allow me to capture the essence of nature and infuse it into my pieces.

Cyanotype Concertina, 2021. Developed with local plants in Tepoztlán, Mexico.

Travel and Storytelling

Whether it’s through bookbinding, papercutting, collage, or structural designs, my artwork weaves together my background as a storyteller, my passion for travel, and my connection to nature. It also serves as a bridge between my Mexican heritage and my experience as an immigrant in Canada, allowing me to explore themes of identity, adaptation, and belonging. Each piece tells a story—not just through its design but through the materials themselves. Wherever I go, I seek out paper and craft dyes from local elements, ensuring the medium becomes a part of the narrative, blending the colors and textures of different places into a cohesive whole.