Community/ChinaGuestrin/Profile
Everything about myself
- Username
- ChinaGuestrin
- Name
- Maria Andrea
- City
- CABA
- Country
- Argentina
- Biography
-
I am La China Guestrin, and I live in Buenos Aires, specifically in the neighborhood of San Telmo. Let me tell you how I came to paint portraits of pets and create magical products with stories.
It all started like this:
One day, I went to the veterinarian to take my dog named Victorio, and I saw a little kitten up for adoption. Without hesitation, I brought him home, and my children named him Flynn.
At the age of 4, he fell ill, diagnosed with ViLef. He was hospitalized during the day, and I would anxiously pick him up in the evening.
I used to place him on my chest so he could hear my heartbeat most of the time. That's why we started sleeping close together, he didn't move throughout the night since he was so weak. When he finally improved, the bond was very strong, and we continued to sleep together, enjoying nights and naps on the couch.
My husband never missed an opportunity to photograph us. When I saw all the images together, I knew I had to do something with this material.
Two years later, I was in a watercolor workshop painting pictures of Flynn and images of cats.
I opened an Instagram account and started sharing my work.
Nine months later, through Reddit, I received an order from Ohio to paint a cat named Reina. And from there, I didn't stop. I have completed over 140 portraits. At the time I intended my paintings to evoke feelings of well-being but I wasn't sure how to do it and what kind of well-being I was looking for.
Everything unfolded very naturally because I transitioned from painting pet portraits to painting connections. I managed to connect art, people, and pets.
A very genuine community began to form, always attentive to any requests, always with comforting words for a wounded heart and interaction among themselves.
In April, I launched my first product called "Bolso Mágico" (Magic Bag). I chose Tyvek® fabric because I like to innovate and make my products eco-friendly. I also remember that my dad had a jacket like that in the 80s.
The bag features prints of the portraits I create—animals that exist or have existed. It's a bag that carries stories and life.
Excited, I made an overall in Tyvek® fabric for an event, always with prints of my portraits and my brand.
In August, "Guardatodos," made with Tyvek® paper, went on sale, and I started including dogs in addition to cats. They were well-received, and as of now, sales are going well.
I am living this wonder inspired by my cat Flynn and all the magical stories I encounter as I paint portraits.
I hope you like them.
You can find me on my Instagram page @chinaguestrin, where you are very welcome! - Who are you?
- artist
- Gender
- female
- Birth year
- 1968
- Website
- https://lachinapinta.empretienda.com.ar/
- Social Networks
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