Hi, I'm Natalie (she/they), a Mexican-American artist based in sunny Long Beach, California. My work (like me) is a blend of friendly realism infused with a splash of humor! You'll often find me painting with vibrant and bold colors, bringing playful anthropomorphic animals to life in a deeply fostered love for nature.
Having earned a Bachelors in Studio Art from the University of California, Irvine, my artistic journey has been a colorful evolution. While my roots lie in traditional canvas painting, I've embraced the digital canvas for its liberating freedom and, let's be real, the ease of cleanup! From educational publishing to delighting early readers, I've carved my path by blending my academic background with hands-on experiences, even dabbling in the art of tattooing as an apprentice.
I share my artistic adventures with my woodworking wife and our two mischievously adorable Burmese cats, Ripley and Tchotchke. Growing up just a stone’s throw from the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, nature's wonders have always danced through my art. Curiosity and joy, fostered by a mother who sprinkled science into my childhood and a fondness for volunteering at the Natural History Museum, continue to shape my work into a space where playful entertainment meets heartfelt storytelling.