Meet the correspondents: SANTO DOMINGO > Nathalie Ramirez

"Drawing has been to me my most faithful mirror. 'A drawing never lies' I heard someone dear to me say once, and boy is it true.

I grew up surrounded by paintbrushes and music on this half island called Dominican Republic. I have always believed that I carry this craving for art in my blood, my grandfather was a self taught painter, my mother a painting teacher, my father an architect.

At high school I thought I wanted to go on and study advertising, yet a friend advised me to go to a wonderful design school, Altos de Chavon, in a town here called La Romana. I graduated in Fine Arts and Illustration. From there, I went on to Parsons in New York City, and a fantastic teacher opened my eyes and heart to the world of reportage drawing.

It has become an intrinsic part of my life now. I'm always willing to learn and grow from the experience of drawing life as it's happening around me. It's a priceless gift, and although I cannot say I haven't run into frustrating moments, drawing is always there for me, as my eyes, as my hands, as my voice."

• Nathalie's blog.
• Nathalie's art on flickr.