Lidia Veronica Echenagusia

“My name is Lidia Verónica Echenagusía Puig, and I was born on August 15 in Trinidad, Cuba. I emigrated to Costa Rica when I was only 15 years old. Leaving Cuba was one of the most difficult moments that I have had to live, as I had leave my family, my friends and my roots--my beautiful country that saw me grow.

“Costa Rica has been a beautiful country, and from the beginning I fell in love with the warmth of its people, its landscapes, and that harmony that you feel.

“I am a Tourism graduate with an emphasis in Hospitality and Restaurants. I worked in hotel chains for many years. After my eldest daughter was born, I decided to change my job to look for something that would allow me to have a more flexible schedule, and that is how I started working for international transport companies. While there, my second daughter was born. I worked in that field for 12 years, until one day I realized that I was not happy and that what I was doing did not fulfill me. It was just mechanical, and I think that is not the meaning of life, so I began to investigate what I could do that allowed me to have my own job and be the administrator of my time and space. I started to try different techniques that I saw on the internet, like crafts with newspaper, papier mache, and other things. In this way I came to painting and began to paint pieces of pottery and clay, like little dolls. Once, a well-known professional artist from my country saw one of my dolls and proposed that I take them to the canvas. So I began to paint my women in larger paintings, and found in this art my true passion.

"Painting relaxes me, makes me feel alive; and in each of my creations I can express everything I feel and everything I am. I did not know I had the gift to paint, but I have discovered this new facet in my life and an audience that he likes what I do. This fills me with joy and pride, and makes me feel fulfilled.

“My biggest dream is to be able to have exhibitions in other parts of the world; that people can know my art; and that they can share a bit of Cuba, Costa Rica, and my feelings. I am fortunate to be able to have this wonderful gift, to express so many things on a canvas.”