Reading Elsa Mora’s intriguing Etsy profile I came across this gem: “Each single person is unique, even if they are twins.” Raised in a big family in Havana, Cuba, Elsa likely learned lessons about the importance of individuality as well as the way that we each relate to each other. Her artwork carries this same sense of awareness, which is curious considering that some of her portraits are without faces. My own personal interpretation (which may be incorrect) is that taking away the facial details allows us to relate to the person through their actions and their spirit, and perhaps in an even deeper sense, allows us to find personal relevance with the portrait.

Of course, not all of her work is faceless; her beautiful Dreams print is an idealized representation of the dream world which makes me feel at peace everytime I see it, while her Insomnia print is both cute yet disturbingly accurate in its portrayal of sleeplessness. All of these works are first sketched with a 2B pencil, which she then scans and colors digitally.

In addition to printed artwork, Elsa also makes amazingly detailed paper sculptures. Using nothing more than a knife and scissors, she carefully cuts each piece of paper and then gives volume to them using a wooden tool; she then glues them with acid-free glue to ensure permanence. I like her recommendation of framing these in a shadow box; they would look absolutely exquisite! For more of her work, please stop by her shop; Elsa is a consummate artist and works in several other mediums which I’ll leave for you to discover!