What makes a design original? How I created my signature style
- bertinatlucia
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
What is an original design?
To me, not just something new, but something authentic.
It’s a blend of: artist personality, the emotions and it’s unique way of seeing the world.
My journey: How I created my signature style
I started creating with cold porcelain at 10 years old, as a way to incorporate another medium into my art experimentation. It was better than fondant, which I knew back then, because I could keep it forever, and also better than ceramics, because it didn’t break. I remember counting the hours at school to go back home and keep making cold porcelain figures.
At 19 years old while studying at university, I reconnected with this clay and had my first big commission: a Pinky and the Brain 1st birthday decoration. I love the show, so it was easy for me to come up with original designs and create 10 different centerpieces and 35 souvenirs. The mom was so happy and appreciative of my work. It was an amazing and very rewarding experience.
However, it wasn't until I was 23 years old that I decided to pursue my artistic endeavor as a career. I contacted a lot of party planners, bakers, and party decoration stores, until I had enough frequent orders and even my own clients, to call it my part-time job.
At that time, it was mostly tv and movies cartoons for birthdays and occassional personalized sculptures that were the baseline of the style I have today.
The first order for a wedding cake topper was a pivotal moment, where I decided I wanted to create figures in my own style as the central aspect of my work.
My wedding cake toppers through the years:
What inspired my aesthetic
From cold porcelain clay artists with a strong and characteristic art signature, like Leticia Suarez del Cerro, Sabrina Rodriguez and Patricia Lorenco, to childhood Disney and Tim Burton movies and dolls.
My clients connect with my personality, process and intention, which is esencial to appreciate and value a custom artwork. Buying original work means owning something deeply meaninful, not just pretty.
Every piece I handcraft is touched by my story, heart and years of practice. I’ll continue creating with love, detail and joy, because that’s what makes my designs truly mine.
