Hi there. Thanks for wanting to know me a little bit better.

My name is Mayi Carles + I'm a multi-passionate eco-designer + painter + indie biz coach + founder of this wonderful blog called heartmade. Needless to say, I keep myself pretty busy around here, but I'm so absolutely passionate about what I do that I'm loving every second of it!

[ a . l i t t l e . b a c k g r o u n d ]

I was 2 years old in 1984, the year my parents framed my very first crayon doodle, which still hands in my mom + dad's bedroom in its flashy gold frame. At the age of 4, I took up my version of "mural painting", applied Mattel plaster and splattered tempera paint to wall surfaces. When I turned 7, apparently inspired my the otherworldly works of Salvador Dali, I drew on my little brother Coco the first of many permanent mustaches. To say the least, I've been a little too curious + hyperactive for my own good, always testing the limits of those around me with all the tutu dancing + drawing on the walls + singing in the shower + playing with my mom's make up + "borrowing" my grandma's sewing kit + baking cupcakes + all the other crazy things I love to do.

[ t h e . r e s u m e ]

Today, not much has changed, just a few career diplomas under my belt to decorate my studio wall + other fancy stuff. I studied art in Scuola Lorenzo de Medici in Florence, Italy; received a dual Bachelor degree in Communication Studies + Art Theory and Practice, with a minor in Art History from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois; and a Masters in Art in Visual and Critical Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois. My exhibition curriculum includes individual shows + artists collectives in both Illinois + Panama. I'm also Vice President + Image Director for Life Blends Inc., a natural juice company I helped found with my dad in 2003. In 2010, I was invited to join the Board of Director of the Bio Museum, designed by Frank Gehry and curated by Bruce Mau. In 2009, I published my first book self titled, Mayi - a quirky autobiography. Prior to becoming a full time artist, I was Program Coordinator for The Aspen Institute's leadership program The Central American Leadership Initiative Foundation (CALI), a non-profit organization - member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) - that seeks to motivate effective + responsible leaders across Central America to get them involved with the pressing issues in their countries + inspire them to trancend from success to significance.

[ c o n n e c t ]

website .................. www.mayicarles.com

blog ....................... www.heartmadeblog.com

facebook ............... www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602230248

twitter ..................... www.twitter.com/mayicarles

e-mail .................... mayicarles [!at] gmail.com

phone .................... (507) 6430 1145