About

Hi! I am Tamara, an illustrator and traditional artist from Spain. I was born in Castelló in the autumn of ’92, between the sea and the Mediterranean forests. In drawing, I found a way to communicate—a connection so strong that I decided to study Illustration at my city’s School of Art.

I am particularly interested in book illustration, especially projects revolving around the themes I am passionate about: fantasy, folklore, mythology, and ethnobotanics. I also created Vieja Floresta as my artistic identity to share my personal work. It delves into the territory of ancient forests, where stories and folk legends are still very much alive.

Seeing the dark forest as the realm of the imaginary, dreams and spirituality, my work stems from a longing to explore the mystery that dwells in the shadows—the untamed and liminal nature of Otherness—with the hope of weaving a deeper relationship with nature. Perhaps it is simply a way to reveal a glimpse of its magic and beauty, while honoring everything it has given us.

Forever curious and self-taught, I wish I had the time to learn everything about ethnobotanics, play with ceramics, and explore a thousand other handcrafted paths. However, for now, I am happy to work through my pile of unread books, wandering through the mountains, and fall in love with every cat I cross paths with.

Currently, I am immersed in the creation of an illustrated book written and illustrated by myself.

Creative process

First, I imagine. I sketch small ideas, exploring the paths the pencil traces across my notebook. Then come the larger drawings and color studies, where concepts unfurl upon the paper. All of this is part of the ritual that precedes the final illustrations, where I build layer upon layer until the atmosphere emerges and every detail finds its place. During my travels and mountain walks, I often take photographs and make sketches to serve as references. I find that this creates a closer, more emotional connection with the story behind each piece.

My process is traditional.

There is something about the touch of paper, the flow of water, and the marks left by the hand that no screen could ever offer me. Watercolors and pencils remain my main allies, though I enjoy experimenting with different techniques—so from time to time, I venture into other mediums like oils, inks, or linocut.

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