Hand-Painted Tropical Butterfly-Themed Brown Pinewood Tray - The Butterfly's Spring

Artisan Organization: Monica Monico

Country: Central America

"My name is Monica Monico and I was born in the 1970s in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. My childhood and adolescence unfolded during the country's civil war. I lived through very challenging times with my parents, three siblings, and my maternal grandmother, who played a significant role in my upbringing.

"During those years, the sound of bombs shattering power lines and plunging us into long nights of darkness was all too familiar. We'd light candles and listen to the captivating tales and legends my grandmother shared with such grace that it felt like she was transporting us to a magical, mystical El Salvador from the early 1900s. In my imagination, I began giving life to the characters and places she vividly described. It was here that the desire to bring these images to life took root in my mind.

"I'm the only one in my immediate family who ventured into the artistic realm. However, my maternal great-grandfather was a draftsman and used to paint posters for the cinemas of that era.

"From a very young age, I had a knack for painting, drawing, and sculpting small figurines from chalk fragments I found at school. My mother noticed this and convinced my father to enroll me in drawing and painting classes when I was just 10 years old. When it came time to choose my university major, I was thrilled to discover that my country offered a degree in Artisan Product Design. It was a relatively new and not widely recognized field at the time, and my parents were initially against it, believing it wasn't a "real" university major and that I would struggle financially if I pursued it. Despite their objections, I registered for the program without their approval, and eventually, they had to accept my decision.

"At the age of 12, I painted my first tempera painting - a pink flamingo that I still cherish. In 2005, I established my workshop for crafting and selling artisanal products. However, it was in 2015 that I delved into illustration and discovered my own unique style of painting.

"I'm often described as cheerful, creative, and positive. Life has thrown several challenges my way, including a heart-wrenching incident in 1997 when, despite receiving high marks in my final portfolio presentation that warranted graduating with honors, I was denied the distinction because I arrived five minutes late for the exhibition.

"In 2013, I experienced a fall while running, resulting in a broken right wrist. I underwent emergency surgery where a plate was inserted, and the doctors couldn't guarantee if I'd regain full use of my hand. When I broke my wrist and was immobilized with a cast after surgery, I asked the orthopedic doctor to leave my fingers free. Perplexed, he asked me why. I replied, 'I'm a painter, and I don't want to stop painting.' The pandemic brought further hardship when my mother was hospitalized with terminal cirrhosis and passed away on my birthday. Amidst these trials, there are moments that make me laugh, like a mishap during my early years in college. During a final exam in Fundamentals of Design, taught by the school's stern director known for her tough demeanor, I accidentally spilled a jar of paint on my canvas. Left with no additional material to redo the work, I decided to create a design using the paint splatter. To my surprise, my work received the highest grade in the class.

"I love to paint, and I create with love, believing that through color and shapes, I can bring joy and positive energy to the world. In the near future, I hope to have my own craft store where I can sell my products as well as those of other artisans. My dream is to provide employment opportunities for more women in my workshop and empower them to be strong, successful heads of households without neglecting themselves and their families.

"I've spent years working in workshops, painting ceramic and wooden pieces, practicing, researching, and experimenting with various materials like morro (a local fruit), wood, papier-mâché, flexible dough, canvas, and MDF. Morro, in particular, is environmentally friendly, as it's abundant in my country, and I have a supplier who cleans and cuts it to fit my needs. The wooden products are crafted by an artisan from La Palma in Chalatenango, a region renowned for its wood production. Papier-mâché and flexible dough products are made from recycled office paper, and the flexible dough is created from cornstarch.

"The most beautiful part of my work is the act of painting, while the most challenging aspect is constantly innovating in my designs. I draw inspiration from nature, the perfect colors and shapes it offers. The contrast of colors I use in painting aims to bring joy and positive energy to those who receive the product.

"I enjoy meditation and spending time in nature, especially at the beaches in my country. I've received two awards for artisanal innovation in my country from the Salvadoran Chamber of Artisans. The first was for morro dolls that celebrate working women in our markets, and the second was for papier-mâché masks inspired by the wooden masks used in the Historiantes dance during Salvadoran patron saint festivals.

"Never stop dreaming; dreams do come true. I once dreamt of sharing my work with the world, and that dream is coming true. Thank you for the opportunity to work with Novica and showcase Salvadoran craftsmanship to the world.""