September 28th, 2024, was an unforgettable experience at the Dining in the Dark event! A huge shoutout to Pearl and the University of San Diego for organizing this incredible evening filled with blindfolded dining, music, food, art, and dancing, all in the company of such amazing people. I was honored to showcase three of my paintings: my lion cub *Leo*, completed last month, and two new pieces created specifically for this event—a large-scale lion, and a live painting of leopard eyes that I worked on during the event. Although the leopard eyes piece isn’t finished yet, it’s coming along beautifully!
I'm beyond thrilled to announce that my large lion piece, exclusive to this event, was sold with several people showing interest in it. One moment that made the night even more special was hearing a guest’s interpretation of the lion. She described it as a ‘Guardian,’ and as soon as I heard the word, I knew it was the perfect name for him. By the end of the night, both *Leo* and *Guardian* found new homes with collectors who connected deeply with them.
What makes this even more meaningful is that 40% of the proceeds from these sales are being donated back to the blind community through the GiftedBack organization and the University of San Diego’s Engineering department. Knowing that my art can make an impact on both individuals and the community fills me with gratitude.
The leopard eyes painting still needs a little more work, but I’m excited to finish it in the coming days. For now, I’ll likely take a small break, as I’ve been painting almost every day this month!
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support—it means the world to me! I can’t wait to create and share more with you all soon. 🦁🎨❤️
Raquel
