THE STORY - cristianaresina.pt

Hi, I’m Cristiana.

I’m an illustrator with a passion for nature and the magic of stories.

I live in Caldas da Rainha with my family, between the blue of the sea and the green of the trees.

As long as I remember, I love drawing and telling stories through images.

It was this passion for books and the childhood’s world that brought me to dedicate myself to illustration.

The magical universes I try to put onto paper and other media are inspired by animals, by the changing colours of the year’s seasons and by the enchanting stories we all believed in as children.

The pieces I create are made up of time, care and dedication. They are painted with natural pigments, prepared by me from wild plants that I harvest and others that I grow.

There is no point in rushing the processes here, as they all involve hours of dedication, slow and thoughtful movements, a proper rhythm aligned with that of nature. It often means waiting for the right season to harvest that colour. It also requires tolerance and adaptation when the same plant produces different colours. But it is this unique character that makes each piece so special.

My boxes are made from natural wood, waxed with beeswax and vegetable oils and decorated with small materials that I collect here and there.

I feel happy and fulfilled, now that I know the cycle has been closed. Without waste, in total respect for what nature has to offer.

When I’m not working on my pieces, I’m going to lose in nature with my family, going on adventures and collecting materials for my paints and DIYs.

You can follow me on Instagram to see some of what inspires me and my work process.

I hope you will join me on this journey and feel the magic and love I put into each piece!