Ana Rosa Lopez

"My passion for art and design has always been a part of me."

"I'm Ana Rosa Lopez. I've been painting since I was born. My father always encouraged me and I have taught my children and grandchildren.

"When my 11 children began to grow up, I had more free time. I decided to paint on blouses and dresses. At first, I copied the tie-dyed styles of India. Later, I moved to floral appliqué with colorful details painted by hand. My children have always helped me and we've always had fun — playing and laughing while we created our designs.

"By the 1980s, this hobby had evolved into a workshop and it has grown with the help of my children. It was hard work, but I was able to look after my home and family while creating unique apparel with a Mexican flair. I'm very proud to be a mother and artist.

"My passion for art and design has always been a part of me. I've learned to perfect my technique, but the most exciting part is always creating something new. I find my major inspiration in flowers. I observe them so I'm able to realistically depict them in my designs. My favorite flower is the hibiscus.

"We create women's apparel in cool cotton that needs no ironing. Our shawls, ponchos, tops, dresses and pants feature three-dimensional floral appliqué and are painted by hand. Several people assist me, and most of them work from home.

"I've always worked with my children's help. They've organized the workshop and processes while I concentrate on art and design. In 2015, I began managing things alone, which has been challenging for me because I can't create as much as I used to. I hope to make the workshop grow and develop more projects. I want to create more types of apparel and designs, and more flowers. I plan to paint, paint, paint!

"Someday, I hope one of my children takes over this wonderful project we've worked so hard to create."