My full name is Ida Desolina Candelaria, however I always used the inital "D" for my middle name until I began to paint. I was named after my grandmother and I  attribute my ability to create on canvas from her, so all my paintings are simply signed Desolina.

As an artist, painting is personal and an integral part of who I am. It is a need to express on a surface through color, line and texture, a visual language only communicated to the viewer.

My journey as an artist began early in life  in a small farm in Corrales, New Mexico. Even than as a child my happiest moments were being in nature surrounded by color, finger paints and crayons. My love of drawing and in particular faces of animals and my school teachers spiraled into a career as a portrait artist. As a young artist and mother I found myself struggling to find a balance between art and family.

I have raised three wonderful children amid juried shows, art fairs, galleries and the study of Fine Art at the University of New Mexico. I later moved to San Diego and became interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine, completed a four year Masters program, passed the State Boards and since then have been in private practice as an Acupuncturist.

Today, I divide my time between painting and Chinese Medicine and consider myself blessed to have two businesses that bring me so much joy.