DIY Chilean Landscapes
Drink Coasters
Mixed media on cork, 2025
This set of handcrafted coasters transforms Chile’s diverse landscapes into bold, graphic miniatures. Using acrylic paint markers on cork, I recreated four iconic Chilean scenes - each distilled into simple, vibrant shapes that capture the spirit of place.
Torres del Paine National Park - Granite spires rise above turquoise waters, framed by Patagonian wilderness and tiny nods to native flora.
Valparaíso - A joyful patchwork of colourful hillside houses, layered in geometric rooftops to reflect the cheerful chaos of this coastal city.
Pucón - A serene lake district vista, where a snow-capped volcano meets blue waters and lush green pines.
Atacama Desert - Inspired by Valle de la Luna’s surreal ridges, with sienna and magenta tones echoing the shifting hues of desert dusk.
Behind the Scenes
Each design began with mini sketches and colour swatches before being layered onto cork coasters. I worked in stages - blocking in backgrounds, then building detail through rooftops, mountain ridges, and shadows. The porous texture of cork brought a natural softness, making each scene feel organic and hand-touched.
This project is both a celebration of Chilean heritage (a nod to my own ancestral roots) and an experiment in applying illustration to functional, everyday objects.