Chiang Mai
From Walls to Wonder: A Journey from Childhood Dreams to Thailand
It's funny how life sneaks up on you, turning childhood dreams into reality when you least expect it. I remember being a 10-year-old in my shared bedroom in Venezuela, wearing oversized glasses and a pirate vest, which I probably wore too much in public. But there I was, confidently painting a Shiryu from Saint Seiya—with every brushstroke I was making an affirmation. "I am an artist," just like the walls could hear me and acknowledge the truth of my desire in their silence. Back then, traveling the world, making art, and forging a life as a creator seemed clear to me. My childish imagination saw me moving beyond the walls of my room and into the world, creating and meeting incredible people along the way.
Fast-forward 24 years. now, in 2025, I find myself sitting in Spokane's newly built airport section, reflecting on the 26-hour journey ahead that will take me from New Year's Day in the U.S. to the charming streets of Bangkok, Thailand. As I sit in a moment of calm before my next flight, the weight of my childhood aspirations settles in. How did I get here? How did a little kid end up on this journey halfway across the world?
The Power of Art and Friendship
Art has always been a bridge for me. Through my creative pursuits, I've met the people who've helped turn my dreams into reality. During my long layover in Seattle, I was lucky enough to meet up with Bryan, an old college friend. It's delightful how life works. We first met at a fraternity party in college around a beer pong table, both of us young and carefree, but here we were years later—Bryan, now an entrepreneur, working on exciting new products while I had carved my path as an artist. It's one of those rare and precious moments when you see how far people can go, how passions and interests evolve, and how the friendships formed in the most unexpected settings can continue to play a role in your journey.
We shared a bowl of spicy Chinese noodles, and it felt like the perfect beginning to what would become a series of culinary delights as I made my way to Asia. The comfort of reconnecting with old friends over something as simple yet profound as a meal reminds me that people in our path are often the fuel and teachers for the bigger adventures in our lives.
A New Chapter in Thailand
Arriving in Thailand was like stepping into a new dimension of the art world—a place I had often wondered about but never fully understood. In college, we were taught about the importance of conceptual work and creating meaningful pieces for the work's sake. But this other side of the art world always existed behind closed doors—an international commercial art scene filled with collections, networking, and sometimes complex transactions. I had long been curious about how renowned artists entered museums, how influential collectors built collections, and how artists traveled across borders.
While in Thailand, I got to experience some of those layers and meet people who had figured out how to navigate those realms. It wasn't all about creating the work itself; it was also about understanding the dynamics of collaboration, the necessity of networking, and the business of art. The deeper I dived, the more I realized how much I still had to learn about this exciting reality. But I also began to understand the importance of meeting people and getting out there to allow the work to transcend boundaries—how artists, curators, gallerists, and collectors work together to project art pieces into a broader market.
One of the most significant experiences came when I was invited to be the first visiting artist at a new printmaking studio in Chiang Mai, a space created by the incredible Miranda Metcalf. Many of you might recognize Miranda's name—she's the "printfluencer" and mastermind behind The Hello Print Friend Printmaking Podcast empire, which has collected over a million downloads and 300 interviews with artists worldwide. Even more impressive is that Miranda's passion for storytelling and connecting with artists led her to build a studio that fits right in the vibrant printmaking community in Chiang Mai. Her vision transformed her growing network into a tangible space for collaboration and creation. I spent over a week there working on a new lithographic piece with Tim Pauszek, a talented printmaker who was instrumental in bringing the project to life.
During my stay, Miranda also curated a solo exhibition of my work titled Lush at HPF Studios—my debut in Asia. To say that this was a full-circle moment would be an understatement. Working with Tim on the lithographs was trusting from a place of vulnerability and openness, relying on each other's strengths, exchanging ideas, and pushing boundaries. The influence of Thailand's love for gold leaf and the techniques we experimented with in the printmaking process created a fusion of textures and marks that I'd never imagined in my work. This collaboration resulted in one of the most ambitious pieces I've ever made, and it was incredibly fulfilling to see how my vision evolved with the support and input of others.
The Power of Collaboration and Connection
A wonderful highlight of my experience was meeting one of my biggest inspirations: Caledonia Curry, also known as Swoon. I had admired her work for years and was fascinated by how she uses art to bring people together, empower people, and engage with communities.
Meeting your heroes can be a double-edged sword. People say you never really know how they'll measure up to the idealized version you've created. But in Callie's case, I was more than impressed. She was more than I could imagine: genuine, thoughtful, and incredibly present. Despite being jetlagged and busy preparing for her show, she made the time to observe my exhibition, ask thoughtful questions, and share some of the wisdom she had gained throughout her career. We even got to talk about "muses" and where inspiration comes from, all while grilling some aged Australian wagyu, marinated mushrooms, zucchini, and corn.
Moments like these reminded me why I chose this path in the first place—the power of connection, the joy of teaming with people who understand your vision, and the reassurance that we're all in this together. Art is a deeply personal journey, one that often feels lonely at times. We spend hours, days, months, and even years working on ideas and concepts only we can see and understand. But then, when we're lucky enough, we meet others who see and believe in our visions. Meeting Callie and hearing her reaffirm my dreams reminded me of something I've always known: it's not just about the artwork itself, but the community and the people we surround ourselves making it all worthwhile and that we must act from a place of love.
Finding Home in a Faraway Place
The energy of Thailand was undeniable—every street corner, every alley, seemed alive with a rhythm of its own. The city was a constant hum: the buzz of scooters cutting between traffic, weaving through crowded streets, with entire families riding side by side, no helmets, just a simple trust in the seductive chaos. Even on a warm Sunday night, the streets were full of life and movement, the air thick with the smells of street food and car exhaustion, people from many different places walking, and the mix of many languages. At the same time, the city kept shining bright with Hello Kitty sculptures and lights. It was a place where time seemed to speed up, where everything was in motion, constantly pushing forward.
But the moment I stepped into the printmaking studio, it was as if time had suddenly slowed. The transition from the chaotic streets of Chiang Mai to the calm of the studio felt like stepping into another world entirely. The glass-covered space with air conditioning was filled with the familiar, comforting scent of oiled ink, the subtle fume of solvents lingering in the air, and the rhythmic clatter of rollers and knives. And, as if the studio needed its soundtrack, the beat of Latin rhythms poured from the Boombox speaker, filling the room with an energy that felt right at home, complementing the quiet printmaking process.
What fascinated me most was the unlikely collaboration within those walls. Here we were—a Venezuelan, a Thai, and a North American—each coming from different corners of the world yet united by this universal language of ink on paper. We communicated through the language of purpose, but we also relied on our adopted languages—English and Thai—to translate our ideas and vision into a tangible common goal. Each of us brought something unique to the table. My Latin roots added a certain rhythm to the process, the Thai influence shaped how we approached the tedious process calmly, and the American spirit of innovation and labor pushed us to experiment with new techniques.
It was a beautiful example of how art transcends boundaries and how cultures that seem so different can find common ground in the simplest ways. The work we created together was more than just a print—it was a testament to the power of collaboration.
A Full-Circle Moment
This trip to Thailand and the experiences I had there, were a reaffirmation of the dreams I had as a kid and the fire that still burns brightly within me. The journey of creating art, meeting incredible people, and being part of a global community continues to shape me in ways I never imagined possible. The lessons learned, the friendships formed, and the memories made are now part of the story I will tell for the rest of my life.
Cheers! to the muses who inspire us, the creative journeys that continue to unfold, and the connections that remind us why we do what we do.
Salud! to the dreamers, the artists, and the collaborators.
See you soon.
