TOTI CUESTA
“Capturing Whimsy and Soul with Watercolors”
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ON THE COVER “I am spring” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper by Toti Cuesta
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“Breath of Life” Watercolor onProwl” 640 gr Colored Paper, 22”x30” “On The Pencil
TOTI CUESTA:
Capturing Whimsy and Soul with Watercolors By Viviana Puello
T
oti Cuesta is an internationally renowned watercolor portrait artist whose captivating works capture the human figure’s whimsy and soul. Her vibrant paintings display a masterful use of color, combined with symbolism that radiates to the light and soul of every viewer. Her oeuvre is a testament to her passion for her craft and her desire to showcase the beauty of the human figure through her art. With each brushstroke, Toti Cuesta seeks to capture the true essence of her subject and create an unforgettable work of art. For Toti Cuesta, art is not just a hobby or a profession; it is the essence of her being. She believes art is a powerful tool for connecting with the world and the self. Her artwork expresses her deep love and oneness with everything around her, and she feels a great desire to share it with others. Even from a young age, Toti found solace in art, using her drawings to understand and make sense of the world. Eventually, this passion for art led her to a career as an artist, where she continued to explore and express herself through her colorful, whimsical watercolor portraits. Before becoming an artist, Toti Cuesta worked as a lawyer. However, her passion for art and the desire for self-discovery led her to pursue a career in the arts. During her journey, she found her true calling as a watercolor portrait artist. With her natural talent and dedication, she quickly flourished in her chosen field.
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It was with watercolor that she found her unique voice. Toti loves how watercolor blends and flows, creating unpredictable and delightful patterns. She uses this medium to create whimsical and vibrant artworks that showcase the human figure, generally female, with a masterful use of color.
For Toti Cuesta, art is more than just a creative endeavor; it’s a magical process that connects her with other planes of reality and the whole universe. Her creative process is driven by her innermost being and the need to capture the essence of her subject matter, particularly the human form.
To achieve this, Toti enters a state of expanded consciousness where she feels a sense of peace and love, and from there, everything is born- the art, color, sound, and vibration she captures in her paintings. Color plays a significant role in her artwork, representing the expanded consciousness and awareness from which the image emerges.
qualities like empathy, resilience, patience, love, joy, and gratitude, essential for personal growth. Toti’s paintings convey that color and art radiate into everyone’s soul and light. As she brings these qualities to life through her art, Toti sees her female subjects as vessels of wisdom and strength. They embody the idea of grace under pressure and inspire others to find their inner resilience. By showcasing women in her artwork, Toti celebrates the power and beauty of femininity. She believes that each woman is unique and that their experiences and emotions are valuable contributions to the world. In this way, her portraits capture the physical essence of her subjects and the emotional and spiritual dimensions that make them who they are. In Toti’s paintings, we see the faces of women who have experienced joy, pain, hope, and everything in between. Each portrait is a celebration of the feminine spirit and an invitation to embrace the richness of our own experiences. By connecting with these universal emotions, Toti’s paintings inspire us to embrace our own journey with more compassion, kindness, and resilience. Toti’s work is a testament to the fact that art is not just about technical prowess or visual appeal. It is also about the deeper, more personal meaning it conveys to each individual who experiences it. Through her art, Toti invites us on a spiritual journey that connects us with our souls and the beauty of the world around us. Her watercolor portraits showcase her mastery of the medium but speak to something much more profound. Toti uses the human figure, usually female, to convey her message of beauty, love, and hope. The colors she employs are vibrant, symbolizing the radiance of the human spirit.
“I am Mountain” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 22”x30”
Once she starts painting, Toti allows the piece to guide her, following its lead and letting it take shape in its own time. As a result, she often makes significant changes to the initial composition as the message becomes more defined during the creative process. Toti’s
creative
process
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surrendering herself to the painting and letting it flow naturally. Through her unique approach, she captures whimsy and soul in every painting, creating stunning pieces conveying love and hope. Women are depicted in her watercolors as symbols of feminine power and
When we look at Toti’s work, we are drawn into a world of whimsy and magic, where we can see ourselves reflected in the art. We are invited to explore our emotions and innermost desires as we connect with the energy surrounding us. Her experiences and personal growth have shaped Toti’s journey as an artist. Today, she uses her art to create beautiful images and inspire and connect with her viewers. Her work reflects her belief in the power of beauty to heal and transform, and it reminds us that we are all connected by the energy that flows through us and around us.
WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? “My creative process is magical and unfolds between two worlds. It all starts with an idea, a composition that comes to me and indicates where each of the elements of the painting are, even though I still don’t know what they represent. That is revealed to me later during the painting process. I put myself at the service of Art so that Art can materialize through my hand and thoughts stop. I enter a profound silence, my movements slow down, and my consciousness expands. It’s a resonant silence, vibrating, electric. It doesn’t seem like a sound from the physical world; it’s like a vibration that contains information, a sonic message that needs to be deciphered and understood. I step out of space-time and feel my breathing and movements slow down. My connection with myself intensifies, as does my perception of the external world. It’s a state of expanded consciousness. Do I paint? Or is my hand guided by a much greater force that materializes in the painting what it wants to convey? I couldn’t answer this question. Often, when I finish painting, I look at the painting, and it seems as if I am seeing it for the first time. Painting is an act of absolute surrender and absolute love. Only from surrender and love can the message of Art be materialized in a painting.” HOW AND WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOU WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST? “I have always been an artist, but it was hard to claim that identity. As a child, I spent hours doodling and coloring in my notebooks, lost in my creative universe, expressing myself
“Toledo street” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 30”x22”
without words. My ability to create was my connection to my reality. In Art, I found my voice, truth, and the strength I needed to survive in a world I didn’t understand. Where I felt fulfilled was in my creativity, yet those around me never saw it as more than a hobby, just something pretty to occupy my time. No one could understand the value of my ability to create and materialize things that seemed impossible for my age. I would paint and then hide or destroy all my drawings so no one could see them. I continued to draw in class while taking notes. If I drew, the information the teacher gave would stick without the need to study it. It was like opening a channel that allowed me to perceive much more than if I were taking notes. During my law studies, I created and painted symbolic drawings to learn the Spanish penal code. Just by drawing them, I already knew the content. Painting opened other channels of perception and expanded my capabilities. Art sought me out and knew where to find me. It gradually took over my life, making everything else seem meaningless if I didn’t heed its call. Like that call, you follow without question.” WHAT MESSAGE DOES YOUR WORK TRANSMIT TO YOUR AUDIENCE? “It’s time to awaken, and Art holds the key. My paintings show you a different world so you can see things differently and open your mind to new ideas. Through Art, I want to help you overcome the limits imposed by society or ourselves so you can grow and be who you want to be.
“Crystal Palace” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 30”x22”
I have discovered that creating Art with a purpose can change the world. My paintings are not just to be seen but to move something within you, to make you see things in a new way. Art heals, touches the heart, and changes you. Looking at one of my paintings can make you feel and think differently about the world.
I aim to raise awareness about the importance of caring for our planet and the places we live in. My Art comes from the deepest part of my being; through it, I share my love for nature and my desire to improve.
“I am Tree” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 21”x23.5”
Art touches our hearts and makes us see the beauty and peace the world can have. It’s time to open our eyes and see things differently. My paintings carry messages of love and connection with nature and the universe. They show a special way of viewing life that cannot be explained with words but only through Art.” HAS ANY PART OF YOUR STORY INFLUENCED WHAT YOU DO NOW? “My entire life story has led me to become who I am. I grew up in an intellectual world without understanding anything. The better you were intellectually, the more valuable you were, and the brighter your future seemed. All this led me to focus on my studies for years, trying to achieve what was expected of me, to the point of forgetting who I was. Art connected my physical world with everything I perceived as a child. Art guided my entire inner search; it was my engine, my inspiration. It helped me understand everything I couldn’t express with words because it was beyond the physical realm. It was my means of communication with myself, the only one who understood what was happening inside me. It guided my path like that excellent teacher who takes you by the hand.
My paintings gave me all the answers I couldn’t find in the physical world. They were alive and responded to my questions even before I asked them. They knew more about me than I did myself and began to guide my way. They gave me information for myself and to share with the world. It scared me to know I was responsible for communicating information from another dimension. My paintings are the ones that have done the inner work. They have brought out all my inner strength of peace, “Classical building, Gran Via, Madrid” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 21”x23.5”
love, joy, and the power of the end of suffering.” RECOGNITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS. INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: - TOP 60 MASTERS; - COLLECTOR´S CHOICE Award; - Emerald ARTYA Award ; - LEONARDO DA VINCI International Prize; - COLLECTORS ART PRIZE; - ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE Award; - HARMONY FOR HUMANITY: The Global Consciousness Art Prize; - FACES OF THE PEACE Art Prize; - GLOBAL ART VIRTUOSO: Elite Artistic Career Achievement Award; - International Prize PEGASUS for the arts. ART BOOKS: - VOICES OF TOMORROW Art Book; -CONTEMPORARY CELEBRITY MASTERS (Vol.2 and 3); - HUMAN BODY IS ART; - LIMITLESS NATURE Art Book; - FACES OF THE PEACE Art Book; - BLACK, WHITE & INFINITE COLORS. ART MAGAZINES: - Arttour International; - Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine; - Contemporary Art Curator Magazine.
“Mother Earth” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 21”x23.5” “The power of Water” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 30”x22”
Art awakens humanity through symbol and color - Toti Cuesta
www.toticuesta.com
“Tree Soul” Watercolor on 640 gr Paper, 30”x22”