"Another artist came up to me at a show and asked me, 'Where does it come from?' At first I said, 'From LA,' but then I realized that he was asking about the inspiration for my work.

"Honestly, every one of my girls is a self-portrait. I name them after friends who exemplify to me the characteristic that I'm trying to capture, but ultimately they are expressions of my own thoughts, emotions, dreams, and oddities. I just don't think anyone would be interested if my entire collection was titled 'Self Portrait I,' 'Self Portrait II'... Plus, even though they come from me, I want anyone to be able to project their own face there. It's like a mirror: when I look into it, I see my face, but when you look, it should be yours."

Teresa Raschilla is a Los Angeles native and recent transplant to Arcata, a small town on the Northern California coast. She has been drawing and painting her entire life, encouraged by other artistic members of her family who have urged her to pursue personal creative freedom in her work. Her art is inspired by the places, animals, and - especially - people whose personalities have affected her.

"But it's not art until you feel something," she explains. "It's art to me, because I feel something when I look at it - an attachment. Of course I do, I mean, I made it. But if you are standing there and you feel nothing, then it isn't art."

In addition to her personal artwork, Teresa also does web and graphic design, catering (naturally) to the promotion of fellow artists and small businesses. When she is in Los Angeles, she also works as a motion picture set painter and is a member of IATSE 729.

All content © Teresa Raschilla