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The Maquilishuat -
El Salvador's national tree

Just as nature heals itself, on September 7th, 2021, El Salvador took a bold step towards revolutionizing the entire financial system by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender. This is a historic moment, signaling the beginning of the self-healing process for our distorted financial system. In tribute to this historic moment, I created an artwork inspired by the Maquilishuat, El Salvador's national tree. 

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Finished with block 860330

The
El Salvador
Series

When I visited El Salvador in April 2024 to exhibit my art at the Halving Party, I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and hospitality of the people I met. Walking through the streets of San Salvador at night, I felt completely safe—a stark contrast to the warnings I received before leaving, as many told me to be cautious, calling El Salvador dangerous. That perception no longer holds true.

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One detail that caught my eye was the maquilishuat tree, a beautiful and common sight throughout the country.

In collaboration with Mrs. Universe and Mrs. El Salvador, Alejandra Guajardo, I launched the El Salvador Series —a project highlighting the country's national symbols in connection with its adoption of Bitcoin.

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01

Sketching the Bitcoin ‘B’ into an organic form

Before I began working on the image of the maquilishuat, I experimented with numerous sketches, trying to shape the Bitcoin ‘B’ into a more organic form. The process took me back to my early days in an advertising agency, where I spent time designing logos.

I had previously designed the Bitcoin ‘B’ in another piece, titled Neptune

02

Pencil drawing

I began by sketching the image in a smaller format, then transferred it to high-quality watercolor paper for a larger version. As with all my artworks, I started with a raw pencil drawing.

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03

Preparation

To achieve a clean finish, I erased the pencil lines to prepare the paper for the watercolor application.

04

Gouache colors

I began with the tree's leaves, initially unsure whether to draw each flower individually, as I had in my first sketch. Ultimately, I chose to paint the entire cluster of blossoms in cadmium orange using gouache, and later defined them with the ballpoint pen.

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05

High-quality paper

I used exceptionally high-quality paper for this artwork—FABRIANO® ‘Artistico’, a natural white, handmade watercolor paper—and I absolutely love it. The gouache colors appear vibrant, with the pigments absorbing beautifully into the paper, allowing the hues to truly shine. Additionally, drawing with a ballpoint pen on this surface is a delight, as its soft, even texture offers the perfect balance of roughness and grain, making the experience incredibly smooth.

06

Black, Grey, White and Cadmium Orange

I love the interplay of black, grey, white, and the vibrant glow of cadmium orange. At this stage, I was uncertain whether to refine the tree's flowers with a ballpoint pen or to leave the upper part untouched as it is.

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07

Bitcoin Day

September 7, 2021, is a landmark day for us Bitcoiners, but even more so for the people of El Salvador. The country’s adoption of Bitcoin represents a glimmer of hope for economic recovery. It also serves as a blueprint for other nations that have struggled to establish their own strong currency and remain dependent on the dollar or other fiat currencies. Bitcoin is hope.

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Ballpoint pens are underestimated tools, just like Bitcoin.

I love when people ask, "Was that really created with just a ballpoint pen?" The answer is, almost entirely, yes. A pen—an everyday tool many wouldn't consider for art—can produce striking, sharp, high-contrast effects and offers remarkable versatility. In much the same way, Bitcoin is often underestimated, yet it intersects with a wide range of fascinating topics, from finance to psychology. Both the pen and Bitcoin, though seemingly simple, reveal unexpected depth and potential when explored more closely.

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In this artwork, I’ve allowed myself the freedom to fully explore the vivid beauty of the bright gouache colors.

An overview of the entire drawing process

The Maquilishuat -
El Salvador's national tree

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Just as nature heals itself, on September 7th, 2021, El Salvador took a bold step towards revolutionizing the entire financial system by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender. This is a historic moment, signaling the beginning of the self-healing process for our distorted financial system. In tribute to this historic moment, I created an artwork inspired by the Maquilishuat, El Salvador's national tree. 

​

Finished with block 860330

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