I am a painter specialized in realist portraiture and in illustration. I trained in traditional techniques of drawing, painting and sculpture, and taught in two art schools in Florence, Italy. I emigrated from the Basque Country and Europe to the USA in 2011. My artistic interest lies in pushing the boundaries of fine art and combining it with ethnographic inquiry to address issues of contemporary life, including identity and human-nature relations. Since I made Reno my home, I have been working mainly on three projects. One is painting individual members of the Basque diaspora in the American West. Recently this has focused on Nevadan Basques. The portraits showcase the diverse individuals making up this historic community, and invite reflection on the diversity of personal Nevadan stories. In parallel to this, I am interested in the secular tradition of pastoralism and its continued existence in different parts of the globe. I have been developing a series of shadow boxes and dioramas using recycled cardboard boxes. This project illustrates real sheepherding lives I have observed and participated in, principally in Nevada, the Basque Country and Israel-Palestine. My third major project is concerned with making illustration-type art from upcycled material, mainly plastic and cardboard. Using this medium, I address issues relating to the human impact on the natural environment. With the current COVID 19 pandemic, it is this project on which I am now placing priority. I am also delighted to work on local portrait commissions – my main bread and butter! I am passionate about bringing art into the lives of people through teaching, performances, lectures, writings and exhibitions. I regularly offer art classes to both children and grown-ups. These can also be done in French and Spanish, two languages which I speak fluently.