Ana Paula Dos Santos, known as Ana Santos, was born in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. A military police officer in Paraná, she has been serving in Foz do Iguaçu for nearly sixteen years. Her path toward art did not follow an academic route, but one of faith. One Sunday at church, she was deeply moved by the voice of a young girl singing. Wishing to praise God with the same grace, Ana prayed to receive that gift. That night, she dreamt that her aunt, a visual artist, handed her a paintbrush and some paint. Upon waking, she turned to God: “I asked You for a voice — will You give me a paintbrush instead?”
From that moment on, Ana began dreaming of brushes, colors, and creations. This language of the soul revealed itself as a spiritual calling. Her aunt encouraged her to follow this inner voice, teaching her the essential gestures — the first impulses. Ana began to paint. Creating became a form of silent prayer, an inner dialogue. Her first inspired painting, Blood Moon, marked a turning point. After several attempts on paper, she managed to capture her vision on a 60 x 80 cm canvas. “Painting rewrites the way I see and feel life,” she says today.
