My name is Maria Mercedes, I'm a late bloomer, self-taught illustrator-crafter from Bogotá-Colombia, who now calls New Zealand home. I'm married to a wonderful caring man and mother of a gorgeous happy girl. I attended medical school, became a psychiatrist and in 2009 decided to make art full time. I sketch, draw, paint and embroider. Mandalas have long been a theme in my work.

When we moved to New Zealand I had a very difficult period deciding what I wanted to do, finding myself again, finding out what my life project was.
I had been keeping artist and travel journals since 2000 and some of my friends started to encourage me to share my work with the world. I started painting watercolors to make cards and art prints for them, painting pebbles to give as presents when visiting my hometown each year, using some of my journal pages to make T-shirts for my husband. Finally, I decided to share what I had made.

In 2011 MagaMerlina my artist alter-ego was born. I'm thankful to her because she has given me something I had lost: the passion for life, the looking forward to a new project, the meaning to what I create, a purpose. Creating and sharing what I do make me happy.

WHY DO I LOVE WORKING WITH MANDALAS?
They keep popping out in my work! Mandalas teach me about my-Self plus they are beautiful.


You can follow my journey at www.magamerlina.com