Even though I live in a big city now, I was fortunate enough to be raised in the countryside. I liked watching the chickens and the horses and the pigs on my way to school and hear them making noise when I came back. I even had to work on the farm from time to time and, although it was tiring, I enjoyed it. Maybe because working there was an activity that I seldom did.
While most children preferred dogs or horses, my favorite animal was the bull. We only had one, and as I learned later, that was more than enough.
Now the bull might not have the grace of the horse, but it makes up for it with brute strength and an imposing presence. I was always afraid of him, I must admit, even though the one we had was a very tame animal. His horns were blunt, but I could still feel that he didn’t need them to beat me to a pulp if he wanted to.
Since I loved drawing, it was only reasonable that I started making bull drawings. I would sit on the other side of the fence (I was too afraid to sit on the fence as he could reach me there) and I would make bull drawings all afternoon. I remember I used to take a canteen full of water, my pencil and my notebook, and sit on the same rock every time.
I was always good at drawing, specially when I drew something that I liked. My bull drawings were so good that my relatives started to frame them and use them to decorate the house. I felt so proud every time one of my bull drawings was selected to be framed, since not all of them got that honor.
Of course, it might have been that my relatives were just being too nice to me. Since I stopped going to the country house many years ago because of family situations, I can’t see if they took down my bull drawings or they’re still there. I like to think they still are decorating the walls. It makes me feel better.
When I grew up, I had the opportunity to go to Spain, and witness one of their famous bullfighting rings. I was very sad and disappointed at seeing how they treated and killed the poor beasts for a show. I excused myself and left before it was over, I just couldn’t stand it.
Since then, I have used my bull drawings to denounce such a practice. I find it cruel and unnecessary. One time, I was very proud to see one of my bull drawings used as a poster against bullfighting in a magazine.
Of course, I can’t dedicate myself to that alone, but I hope that my bull drawings help so that one day, there aren’t any bullfighting spectacles anymore.
Since I was little, I have always been obsessed with insects. To me, theyre part of a different world. An immense and vast world that isnt visible unless you really pay attention. That fact alone made me feel like I had magic powers, the power to be a giant in human world, or to become little and be part of the insect world just by staying still and looking at these small beings in the park.
Of all insects, the most fabulous ones for me were the butterflies. They seemed so different and beautiful from the rest of the insects that it was as if they were some kind of mystical creatures among insects, much like unicorns are to horses.
In addition, they undergo a transformation from worms to cocoons to butterflies that I couldnt find an explanation for (at that age). At that time, the only explanation I could think of was magic.
I guess thats why I started to make mystical butterflies drawings. I had an affinity for drawing and I liked to draw and tell myself stories about these creatures.
My first mystical butterflies drawings were about giant butterflies that I could ride. They were like giant horses and I would imagine I rode them to places around the city, impressing my neighbors and classmates. I would soar on them through the skies as if I were riding a beautiful, very strange looking dragon.
Later, my mystical butterflies drawings involved the opposite scenario. In these, I would shrink in size and visit the land of insects, where butterflies were kings. In my imagination, this was an even more thrilling experience, as everything was new, original and maybe dangerous.
My mother was very supportive of my mystical butterflies drawings. She always told me she liked them and encouraged me to draw more. She even posted some of my mystical butterflies drawings on the fridge. I was always thrilled when she selected one for such an honor.
As I grew old, I lost interest in mystical butterflies drawings and instead started to draw other things, like horses and houses. I guess outgrowing my mystical butterflies drawings was part of becoming a bit more aware between the distinction of fantasy and reality.
Im now an adult, and I still do drawings from time to time. I studied drawing techniques, so now I draw better and faster. However, sometimes I wish I had kept some of my mystical butterfly drawings. After all, they were the ones that got me started on the hobby.
