Hola, I’m Nayeli
(Nayeli means I love you in the Zapotec dialect)
A Mexican-born shamanic artist, illustrator, and animator inspired by a profound love for animals and nature. My artistic journey has taken me to Mexico City, Brooklyn, and now Lisbon, each place shaping my artistic voice and broadening the horizons of my dreams.
Since my earliest memories, I’ve always felt a deep connection with nature and animals. Spending most of my time outdoors, I would sketch a myriad of magical species. My love for drawing and passion for art led me to pursue a career in graphic design. After working in the freelance world of design and animation in New York for seven years, I began to feel burnt out and unfufilled. In 2019, I felt a calling to move to Lisbon, Portugal with the hope of finding a more slow-paced and purposeful life. The flowy energy of this place brought me many unexpected gifts and became a portal to new experiences and inner growth.
After exploring various artistic mediums, it was through a painful breakup, that led me to discover my love for creating black-and-white pen art illustrations. Through this difficult time, “The howling wolf” became a symbolic representation of my emotional landscape. This experience inspired me to focus on the beauty of animals and raise awareness of endangered species with my art. This led me to exhibit my work in both Brooklyn and New York.
In 2022, my beloved soul dog, Pera, crossed over, immersing me in deep grief. In the midst of this sorrow, I initiated a profound healing journey leading me to explore many parts of myself. During this period, through an animal communication course, I received a message hinting at the arrival of a new pup. On the day of my birthday, Chia entered my life, bringing a new chapter of joy and spiritual growth. Time and time again, I continued to experience the magic of spirit in unexpected ways.
Drawing has become a nourishing link to my inner landscape helping me to connect to my authentic voice and trust my intuition. As I continued to draw, I started learning about the magical world of Power Animals and other earth-centered practices. This led me to become a certified Shamanic Practitioner, birthing the vision of my Power Animal project—a fusion of my love for animals, spirituality, and my art.
By working with Power Animals, I discovered an untapped well of creativity. In this sacred space of creation, I learned the art of surrender, trusting the unfolding magic of the process. By immersing myself in an illustration where I connect to a person's Spirit animal, I can tap into a divine source and capture the animal’s essence.
I feel grateful and humbled whenever I get the opportunity to connect with the magical world of Power Animals. Whether I am leading a group workshop or creating an art piece, my intention is to inspire gratitude, respect, and reverence for Mother Nature and the beautiful animal kingdom. I hope my work serves as a source of joy and helps you rediscover and reclaim your inner power, gifts, and magic.