We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Flora Saldivar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Flora thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I recently had the incredible opportunity to design a silk scarf with Echo NY. What makes this collaboration so powerful is that $100 from each sale goes to a charity of the artist’s choice. I selected Canopy NWA, an organization dedicated to creating a welcoming community for refugees and providing them with the resources they need to build new lives. As an immigrant, supporting this mission and helping others like myself who haven’t had the same opportunities I’ve had is incredibly meaningful to me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Flora Saldivar, a Mexican American abstract painter based in the American Ozarks. My artistic journey began in Mexico City, where I was surrounded by a vibrant culture and skilled artisans. This early immersion fostered a deep appreciation for color and organic materials, which I now translate into my art.
I specialize in large-scale abstract paintings, primarily using manta cruda (raw canvas) for its unique textural qualities. My process is deeply intuitive, balancing a “happened quality” (as Frankenthaler would call it) along with intentional compositions to capture emotions and impressions through color, movement, and texture.
What truly sets my work apart is my innovative Verso-Infundo method. This technique involves painting on both sides of the canvas to create intriguing depth, which I refer to as my “ghost layers.” I’ve also made it a personal goal to carry on the soak stain technique, but with a unique twist: I paint with custom gouache color blends developed in my Fayetteville, Arkansas studio, rather than traditional oil paint. This ensures fluid application and vibrant pigments without damaging the raw canvas. My “bleeding colors” technique is one more element that differentiates me from other artists, where a dominant hue subtly sheds a different color.

I’m incredibly proud of developing the Verso-Infundo method and pushing the boundaries of abstract painting. I’m also proud of my commitment to preserving the integrity of the canvas while still achieving the vibrant, fluid applications my work is known for. Being recognized as an “Artist on the Rise” by Artsy and having my work included in permanent collections like OZ Art NWA are also significant points of pride, confirming that my work resonates with both institutions and private collectors globally.

What I Want You to Know
For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want you to know that my work is more than just abstract art; it’s a reflection of my journey, my heritage, and my passion for pushing creative boundaries. Each piece is a unique exploration of color, texture, and emotion, designed to evoke a visceral experience. I strive to create works that invite viewers to look closer, to discover the hidden depths of the “ghost layers,” and to appreciate the delicate interplay of my custom color blends and bleeding colors. My aim is to translate the richness of my cultural heritage into a visual language that speaks to everyone.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn from my graphic design background was the rigid adherence to compositional rules.
In graphic design, a “successful” composition often relies on strict grids, alignment, negative space principles, and a clear hierarchy of information. The goal is typically to guide the viewer’s eye in a very deliberate and often linear way, ensuring a message is conveyed efficiently and legibly. There’s a strong emphasis on control, precision, and adherence to established aesthetic guidelines that have been proven to work for commercial purposes.
The backstory to unlearning this was a continuous internal struggle as I transitioned into painting. When I first started creating abstract art, I found myself instinctively trying to apply those same design principles. I’d be meticulously planning out where certain colors would go, how shapes would balance, and ensuring there was a “perfect” flow. The result was often work that felt stiff, overly intellectualized, and frankly, a bit sterile. It lacked the raw emotion and visceral impact I was striving for. My paintings felt more like carefully constructed graphic layouts than expressions of feeling.
The “aha!” moment came when I realized that a truly successful painting, especially in abstraction, isn’t about following a prescriptive set of rules, but about capturing an emotion, an energy, or a “happened quality” as Helen Frankenthaler used to call it. It’s about embracing the unpredictable nature of paint on canvas, and letting the work evolve organically. I had to force myself to let go of the need for perfect balance or precise alignment. I had to ignore the voice in my head that was constantly looking for the “right” way to place an element according to design principles.
This unlearning process involved a lot of experimentation and, at times, what felt like a deliberate act of artistic rebellion against my own training. It meant trusting my intuition over my intellect, and allowing for imperfections, drips, and unexpected color interactions. It was about recognizing that while design aims for clarity and control, painting, for me, thrives on ambiguity, chaos, and the raw, unfiltered expression of internal states. It was liberating to embrace the idea that a “successful” painting could break all the “rules” of design and still resonate deeply with a viewer because it communicated on a more profound, emotional level.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding moment as an artist is witnessing someone’s initial reaction to my painting. It’s truly special when they immediately begin to articulate what they see within the shapes and colors. I’ve heard the most profound interpretations, revealing the deepest meanings viewers find in my work.
I believe this spontaneous connection is incredibly powerful. It instantly draws you into a more intimate space with someone, even if you don’t know them well. It’s like a small window into their world, and I cherish being able to create such a strong and immediate response through my art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Florasaldivar.com
• Instagram: Flora_formalista

Image Credits

Jara Hill