Freedom was the first drawing started in 2020 that required the longest evolution — since it was at the beginning of my journey to reconnecting to my voice as an artist after my first real big burnout from the VFX industry. It was also after my first Peruvian ceremony, integrating within my home in Ecuador.
I had sketched back then something I wanted to wear as a costume. Something that represented this blue bird, this freedom of an energy I had started connecting with back then. It was the very first pattern I made, that changed probably 10–20 times before finalizing into what you see here. Starting off with a black and white pattern that I wore out — which I absolutely loved — then slowly evolving it over time based on what the art was bringing out in people. Balancing that line between what the art wanted, but also this way that the art kept bringing people’s desire for color out.
It was my second experiment with color, due to the level of intricacy as you can see. Which over time became even more intricate. The base shapes for the feathers, which felt like leaves, deserved more details within the black and white lines, which also deserved more details within the colors. Even bringing the image out a bit more to reveal more detail. The constant balancing act back and forth took a couple of years, before I was able to bring to life a particular style that felt steady and true. True to the original concept of this blue bird — iterations of prints with just the blue feathering (since at that time, and currently, I still have zero interest in figuring out how to make intricate costumes) — but then evolving it into this multicolored piece which still kept the black lines alive.
The evolution itself is also what sparked this relationship to freedom. The black lines — the somatic portion of the piece, which for me is the most fun part — but also the intricate detailing of the colors, which for me was the more uncomfortable part. Still developing a relationship to color, you can see my growth of that relationship through the sequencing of the rainbow design. The imperfection behind it. Somehow, that combination of fun, yet that slight edging of something new, is the vibration of freedom. This combination of what brings me fun, but also this devotion to continuing exploring something new — unexplored, into the unknown.
100% mulberry silk charmeuse — ultra-luminous, weightless, and deeply luxurious against the skin. Hand-drawn original art by Jessenia Nauta printed and hand-sewn in Montreal, Canada. Print visible approximately 50% on the reverse side.