Preface
This is an introduction to my story that lead to my personal growth and my unfolding passion for art. I decided to name my first series of work “My Unfolding Journey”. These works depict how I have allowed myself to become more than I was allowing myself to ever be. Therefore, I give you a glimpse of my world right before I created these works to have a better understanding of how they came about.
#myunfoldingjourney
Hi, my name is Ana Laura Ortiz. I am 37 years old and recently found my voice as an artist, as a mother, as a friend, as a teacher, and as a spiritual being. I have always been drawn to the visual arts since I was a little kid. As a child and an adult, I struggled to find my voice. One thing that did permeate through my being was my passion for art, which I never lost sight of.
About 2 years ago, the catalyst that lead to my discovery of my true self had presented itself to me. It came without warning just like any tragic event would present itself. The day it knocked on my door I was struck with disbelief, anger, confusion, instability and fear. As my emotional state began to deteriorate something deep inside refused to go down the typical path. Full of uncertainty I listened to that deep voice inside. I had made a decision that changed my life for good and for the better. I made the decision to NOT become deprived of MY LIFE! I decided to overcome my hardship. I had to make peace with it in order to overcome it. Since then, I have lived up to my word. Through a daily ritual of trying my best to feel just a little bit better each day is what lead me to my now. I had decided to overcome my current reality and create a new and better one for myself.
It has been a daily mission to make the best out of every day and every situation that would cross my path. Through my new perception of my contrast I was able to let go of everything. My heart had lost everything so I thought what do I have to lose. I listened to several inspirational and uplifting speakers, meditated, traveled, sang, ran, jumped and became a kid again. I learned to let go of all the little non important things and learned to live in the now. I learned to relax. I learned to have fun again. I learned to love unconditionally. I now know what I want in a partner, in my job, as an artist, as a mother, as a teacher and as a human. I have now found my new purpose. I am creating art that tells my story and my journey in the hopes that it can reach out to others. This is only the beginning of my journey and I am grateful I get the opportunity to share my growth and work with you.
My artwork tells my story. I am the octopus that gets to experience this beautiful, persistent, contrasting spiritual journey. I use the element of line to visually show the energy or what I call vibrations of energy that is us and around us. I hope that you enjoy and appreciate my story and my artwork. I will share details about each artwork and the significance it holds on the events of my growth that I had the privilege to experience. I hope you enjoy.
"You are where you are. You can’t be anywhere else. Make the best of it. More will come. You choose ho w your life unfolds by the vibrations yo u radiate. You have to feel your way out not think your way out. Align."
“The Comfort Zone”
Black Ink with Prisma Colors
“The Comfort Zone” is a visual metaphor before the inevitable transformation.
Reluctant and anxious the octopus nestles itself in its comfortable, habitual environment. It has pondered about one day becoming more. Becoming it’s true self without fear or judgment. Becoming free. Becoming and embracing it’s true self. Will it make the pivotal move that would change everything? Will it decide enough is enough? Will it follow its unequivocal intuition?
It did.
“The Realization”
Black Ink
“The Realization” was the pivotal moment for me. I realized everyone has two choices. Become your hardship or overcome it.
One of the things I promised myself before I made my whole hearted commitment to overcome my hardship was to listen without judgment to my inner being and my intuition. I decided to let my inner voice guide me. One of the first things that my inner being lead me to was to become more creative. I did not allow myself to start the endless negative thoughts that typically would over rule my action. Instead I listened without judgment. I started buying sketch books left and right for no other reason but it felt right. I would carry a sketchbook everywhere I went. I had them placed all around my home, car and work space. I waited with a sense of peace, preoccupied by life. I started writing phrases that soothed me and inevitably shaped my new perception of myself and my contrast. I realized I had two choices; become the emotions of my hardship or overcome it. I decided to embrace my contrast.
“Venturing Out”
Black Ink and Prisma Colors
“Venturing Out” depicts the trust I had to build in order to accept the contrast.
There was no going back now. I decided to embrace my contrast. As depicted in my work, the curious and eager octopus slowly ventures out of its comfort zone and into a new and different environment. Unsure of what lies ahead, it pursues on without much thought. Trusting its inner being and knowing somehow things will get better. Doubt and fear started to creep its presence into its thoughts. Instead of allowing those emotions to overtake it, it decided to become aware of them and utilize processes to release the toxic emotions. It succeeded. As illustrated in my artwork, I started to slowly venture out into new territory. Never had I decided to embrace hard contrast. This illustration is a visual representation of accepting the contrast and finding balance to move forward.
“The Unknown”
Black Ink, Prisma Colors, and Acrylic
In “The Unknown” I created a very strange and different environment. My intention was to create an unfamiliar ambiance. The octopus is eagerly moving through the uncertainty and determined to persevere. The messy circular lines represent the conflicted vibrations of energy that are to come. The translucent octopus represents the idea of moving forward without any resistance and an open mind to change. This piece represents a new beginning that is to come.
“Letting Go”
Black Ink and Oil Pastels
In this work in progress, my intention is to create a work that communicates the subconscious struggle I carried for years. This is the ongoing story that was embedded in my subconscious through my experiences of life. The story that I believed but was nothing near the truth. The story that became my norm and my life for 35 years. It became so habitual that anything that contradicted that felt wrong. In my illustration the octopus resembles my subconscious self that is wrapped around my physical self. In this final work I intent to show a balance between the two selfs. To find balance between material and spiritual aspects of life. I believe to find balance means to find happiness and fulfillment. I hope to soon share this finished work with you on social media.
Share your journey
Reflect on your growth or much needed expansion. A happier future is not possible without change and without some discomfort. What is after that is what you truly seek.
You will find my story on @hjanai on Instagram. Post your feedback or thoughts or decide to share you journey with the following hashtag.
#myunfoldingjourney
About the Creator
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Lost but Trying
There are moments in life when everything feels lost—not dramatically, not loudly, but quietly. The kind of loss that settles into your bones and makes even simple breathing feel heavy. For Adam, that moment came on an ordinary Tuesday morning when he realized he had nowhere left to go. At twenty-seven, Adam wasn’t supposed to feel this tired. He wasn’t supposed to feel like life had already passed him by. Yet there he was, sitting on the edge of a narrow bed in a rented room, staring at peeling paint on the wall, wondering how everything had gone so wrong. He had once been full of plans. Big ones. Dreams of building something meaningful, of becoming someone his younger self would be proud of. But life, as it often does, had other ideas. Adam grew up in a small town where hope was common but opportunities were rare. His father worked long hours, his mother carried silent strength, and everyone believed that education would be the escape route. Adam believed it too. He studied hard, stayed out of trouble, and dreamed even harder. But dreams don’t always come with instructions. After college, rejection letters became his daily routine. Job interviews led to polite smiles and empty promises. “We’ll get back to you,” they said. Most never did. Slowly, confidence turned into doubt. Doubt turned into fear. And fear became a constant companion. When his father fell ill, Adam returned home. Medical bills piled up. Savings vanished. Dreams were postponed, then quietly buried. After his father’s death, the house felt too empty, too loud in its silence. Adam left again, this time not chasing dreams, but running from memories. The city welcomed him with indifference. He worked temporary jobs—delivery rider, warehouse helper, night security guard. None lasted long. Each job paid just enough to survive, never enough to grow. Failure followed him like a shadow, whispering reminders of what he hadn’t become. One night, after being laid off yet again, Adam walked aimlessly through the city streets. Neon lights blurred into streaks of color. Laughter spilled out of cafés he couldn’t afford. He felt invisible, like a background character in everyone else’s success story. That night, he considered giving up. Not dramatically. Not with a note or tears. Just a quiet decision to stop trying. To accept that some people were meant to struggle forever. He sat on a bench near a bus stop, head in his hands, when an old man sat beside him. “You look like someone who’s lost,” the man said gently. Adam didn’t reply. The old man continued, “Being lost isn’t the problem. Staying lost is.” Adam finally looked up. The man’s face was lined with age, but his eyes carried a calm confidence, the kind earned through survival. “I’ve tried,” Adam said bitterly. “Nothing works.” The man smiled softly. “Trying doesn’t guarantee success. It guarantees growth.” Adam wanted to argue, but something in the man’s voice stopped him. “I failed more times than I can count,” the old man added. “But each failure taught me something. Most people quit right before life changes.” The bus arrived. The old man stood up. “Don’t stop trying,” he said. “Even slow steps are steps forward.” Then he was gone. Adam sat there long after the bus left. For the first time in months, something shifted inside him—not hope exactly, but curiosity. What if stopping wasn’t the answer? What if trying, even imperfectly, still mattered? The next day, Adam did something small. He updated his resume. It wasn’t impressive, but it was honest. He applied for jobs he felt un for. He watched free online courses at night. He started writing—short thoughts, reflections, anything that helped him release the weight inside. Days turned into weeks. Rejections continued, but so did effort. One evening, Adam posted a short piece of writing online. He didn’t expect much. But comments came in. Strangers resonated with his words. Someone said, “This feels like my life.” Another wrote, “Thank you for putting my feelings into words.” For the first time, Adam felt seen. He kept writing. Months later, he landed a small content job—not glamorous, not permanent—but real. It paid little, but it paid consistently. More importantly, it gave him purpose. Life didn’t magically improve overnight. Problems didn’t disappear. Some days were still heavy. But Adam noticed something new: he no longer felt stuck. Trying had changed him. He learned that progress isn’t loud. It doesn’t announce itself. It arrives quietly, disguised as persistence. He learned that being lost doesn’t mean being broken. Sometimes it simply means you’re between versions of yourself. Years later, Adam would look back on that bench, that night, and that stranger. He would realize that the turning point wasn’t a job or success—it was a decision. A decision to keep trying, even when trying hurt. Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do isn’t winning. It’s not quitting.
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