I am Costa Rican. Costa Rica is a country in Central America, and we are well known for the saying "Pura Vida."

The little bird? Hira is always looking for something. Maybe I'll tell you about it in the future.

Hira will introduce me, and then whenever I want to tell you something, she will be the little bird that tells it. Yes, she's a gossipy but sweet little ball of fluff.

I am an artist, and it's something that has defined me since I was little. My mother tells me that as a child, I used to sit and watch craft shows on TV. ArtAttack clearly also marked my childhood.

I started drawing more frequently around age 11, at least that's what I remember. At 13, I decided I would enter the Faculty of Arts at UCR, the University of Costa Rica. At the time, I thought about graphic design.

When the time came to apply, I failed the skills exam. It was quite a hard blow, even though the exam was outdated. Curiously, it was retired after that year and only came back into effect a couple of years ago.

I still entered the English program. There, I learned to appreciate a language that had tormented me for years because I didn't understand anything. But it was just a matter of input, which I managed to achieve in the two years I was in that program.

I only stayed for two years because afterward, I managed to get into the university's Faculty of Arts. Only it was in the plastic arts area, not graphic design, due to demand. Honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. The plastic arts area opened up a wide range of possibilities for what art is. Before I knew it, I was working with metals, stones, clay, glass, among others.

Contrary to what I thought, I ended up studying printmaking and ceramics instead of painting. I fell in love with alternative specializations, and it has made me curious about others.

During the pandemic, I learned crochet. After watching so many amigurumi videos, the idea got into my head. The first ones were deformed disasters. But through obsession, I improved and ended up with a mountain of them. That's how I started going to events to sell them. That's how Dulce Pececito was born.

Yes, I had a problem because of this. People sought me out for the amigurumis and not for my art. Because I had never actually put my art up for sale. For years, I was very afraid to show what I draw and other areas in which I work. I've overcome that now, and that's why this store exists.

I changed the store's name to just Luryan because I conceive of it more as a portal to connect what I like, imagine, and create with external people, as many topics capture my attention.

As a good Costa Rican, I love nature. Here, it's very normal to encounter the local wildlife. At my university, you can see sloths in the middle of campus. So, living in this environment has made my curiosity about them grow, which is why I enjoy drawing them.

But on the other hand, I like to imagine fantastic creatures, create my own OCs, or peculiar ideas, in addition to all things Geek.

Given so many interests, I decided that the store would have collections according to my areas of interest. However, it wouldn't be governed by a strict idea of how it should look and be. Because I, myself, have many facets, and as an artist, it's normal for my art to reflect that. So, this store is not a store of aesthetic products. These are products that carry a piece of me and support me in continuing to create.

Today, 2026

I am in the process of my final graduation project in printmaking.

I'm not really sure what will happen once this phase of university is over. I'm not sure if I'll pursue a master's abroad or lose myself somewhere.

What I do know is that I wish to be able to live from the work my mind and hands create, despite what is said about the difficulties of my profession.

This store is a little piece of hope to make this a reality.

Because the university gave me hope.