Traditional media; Characters & Concept Art

I was inspired by Albert Camus' book "Le myth de Sisysphe". He inferred that the irrationality, the human nostalgia and the absurd are the 3 characters of the drama that would finish all logic in the human existence. I represented them as some inner demons / ghosts. Graphite, micron pens, ball point pen and black markers on sketchbook moleskin.


"Every horror is an illusion in our minds", trying to represent it by looking into the mirror, I could imagine another dimension and maybe another self. I got inspiration from the ukiyo-e painting's folklore monsters. Faber Castell colors, white charcoal, graphite, Micron pens and paper stump for shadings on grey paper sketchbook.

Octopus and Girl had been a subject very common in my drawings. She represents the fearless and proud
side that I wish to project.
Micron pens, graphite, white charcoal, black markers and paper stump for shading on grey paper sketchbook

Bakemono: Monster cats that are said to take on human form, lick the oil in lamps, and eat people born in the year of the Mouse. Micron pens, white charcoal, black markers and Chinese ink on grey paper sketchbook.

I imagined how would be the Zodiac signs as male characters, and I came up with a fierce Leo with lion fire paws as super powers. The tattoo on his chest represent all the elements of this sign. Faber Castell colours, Micron pens, white charcoal, black markers and paper stump on grey paper sketchbook

This is a demon (Oni) from the Japanese folklore Momotaro which is a brave kid who confronts it, while the Oni tries to trick him to give him all his members. Faber Castell colours, black markers, Chinese ink and Micron pens on grey paper sketchbook.

Some legends of ghosts in Japan/Mexico share the same core: skeleton apparitions to hunt the living on revenge. Micron pens, ball point pen, black markers, white charcoal and graphite on grey paper sketchbook

I wrote a poem in Spanish and the translation goes as: "Body's prisoners. Life's prisoners. Ideology's prisoners. Feelings' prisoners. Embedded love. Embedded hate. To not feel. To not wish. To be, really be. Skull. Ephemeral useless speeches. Things are. The feeling is. The final pain". And it talks about how our minds get squared in something ephemeral as an ideology of love or hate. Freedom is, to me, realize and accept that nothing is eternal, except art. Graphite, black markers, Micro pens, ball point pen, white charcoal, white and red thread for the embroidery, parts of an old book on grey paper sketchbook

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Eve, the 1st victim of mysogyny

Eve/ La Malinche by Salas, E. (2021) Eve/ La Malinche by Salas, E. (2021) Every March 8 marks the International Women's Day, a date that, more than a celebration, is an occasion to reflect on the femicides, discrimination and violence faced by women in all areas. What it's "femicide"? It's the murder of a woman for reasons of gender. Since the beginning of the times, women have been unfairly stroked out as villains through misogynist, speeches/ ideas. And boosted by -some- religions, women have been seen as "an object that needs to be punished". In modern days, some countries like mine, Mexico, women are still seen not only as inferior, but in several cases, are dehumanized and the consequences of this it's the sad statistics: 10 women are murdered daily in Mexico alone. But what are the origins of this gender violence and misogyny? In the pre-Roman era, Egyptians have some of the greatest female monarchs in history, and their religion enhanced

Embroidery photography and illustrations

As I question myself what is "to be an artist", my curiosity take my skills into another level to experiment with different media. All this for the sake to express my emotions or ideas in a new way. Embroidery has been a subject I find exciting and beautiful, and since a few years ago, I've been playing with the possibilities of illustration and embroidery. In more or less successful outcomes, this post is dedicated to my favorite try-outs which I separate in three different categories. Coeur, watercolours, inks & thread on paper by Salas, E. (2020) Embroidery illustrations by Salas, E. These illustrations are a few examples of how by incorporating a few strings and patterns of embroidery as part the illustration, can pop out the main idea or feeling. Even if it's just to add a bit of colour, or mere experimentation in my sketchbooks, I enjoy the process and the results. Embroidery photography These photos were taken by me in 2008-2009, in my hometown in Mexic

Betty & Barney Hill's alien abduction

UFO illustration, scanned (by Salas, S. 2022) Betty & Barney Hill's alien abduction (1961) it's the 1st case documented and researched by the US government. It would kick off an extensive inquiry by the Project Blue Book, that investigated UFO sightings, leaded by Dr Allen Hynek. Even if in later years he had to contradict his discoveries (as a government's attempt to cover the investigation), he was the first to classify the Close Encounter system, and it's considered the father of the concept of scientific analysis of reports and evidence left by the UFO's. The Interrupted Journey, a 1966 book by the author Jhon G. Fuller was collaborated with Betty & Barney Hill's testimonials, which were taken after separated hypnosis therapies conducted by a psychiatrist (continue...) 'UFO' illustration first sketch on paper, ink pens. (By Salas, S. 2022) It all started with a spontaneous trip to Niagara Falls: on their way back to their home in NH, as t

Stella Salas' Art

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