“Monas” is Spanish slang for dolls—but these aren’t the kind that sit quietly on a shelf.

Las Monas are my ever-growing collection of painted faces—bright, whimsical, and full of feeling. They arrive unannounced, each with her own mood and mischief, like little visitors from a world where wonder still runs wild. They’re not portraits exactly… more like emotions that grew eyes and decided to dance in color.

They began appearing when I needed them most—as gentle companions on my journey back to joy. In painting them, I’ve been quietly reclaiming the parts of myself that once felt too tender, too much, too loud. The child I once was meets the artist I’ve become—and together, we play.