Crafting powerful stories through film, photography, and illustration—bridging art, science, and adventure to inspire and captivate.

Bold & Conscious Storytelling

Artist Statement

Art has always been my way of surviving—of making sense of the world and, more often, of making peace with it. Since childhood, I’ve turned to drawing and visual storytelling to cope, to express, and to connect. What started as a quiet rebellion in the back of a classroom—sketching through the noise to find focus—became a lifelong ritual, one that continues to guide and ground me today.

Much of my work is rooted in the emotional landscapes I grew up navigating—shaped not by my own diagnoses, but by living in the shadow of mental health issues within my family. That kind of instability left its mark, and from an early age, art became my anchor. It was my refuge—my way of processing the chaos around me. The arts have always been more than hobbies; they were survival tools, ways to translate pain into something tangible, something beautiful.

They’ve been my most loyal companion on this journey, helping me stay grounded in my own sanity while supporting those I love through their storms. I create not only to heal and make sense of it all, but to remind others of the quiet beauty, fragility, and wonder that still surrounds us—and the healing that comes from truly paying attention to it.

Nature—especially the ocean—is inseparable from my practice. The underwater world has captivated me in ways I still can’t fully explain. Scuba diving feels like a ritual, a moving meditation: the pressure, the rhythm of breath, the stillness—it’s therapy. It’s church. It's where I feel most alive, most present, most honest. That’s why I bring my camera there. Why I sketch wildlife and seascapes. Why I seek stories in saltwater.

Whether I’m filming, photographing, or drawing, I’m chasing a sense of clarity—a visual language for the things we often can’t say out loud. After leaving behind a corporate path, I committed fully to creating not just content, but meaningful art. My work blends documentary, fine art, and personal metaphors to reflect what I believe: that beauty is everywhere, that healing is possible, and that art—like nature—is a lifeline.

Background & Accomplishments

Darlien Morales’ poignant storytelling and environmental filmmaking specialty to merge the gap between science and media led her to win multiple EMMYs, a Brand USA, ASTA Platinum awards, and more. With vast experience, and internationally premiered projects about conservation, history, eco-tourism, and education, Darlien stands out as one of the few female underwater camera operators and cinematographers from the Caribbean. Her works have screened at South By South West, Blue Ocean Film Festival, Jackson Wild Summit, Bad Bunny Concerts, and Apple TV’s USA Today. When not making films or exploring nature, she is drawing or performing martial arts. Last year, Darlien won four medals at the International Chinese Martial Arts Competition in Orlando with the traditional Eagle Claw style. Her illustrations have made it to book covers, scholarship auctions, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services programs to protect endangered species. Darlien values mobility and creativity throughout her lifestyle.

Current Work

Darlien is developing an ocean inspired series. She is collaborating with local and international entities to promote underwater (and adventure) camera educational programs. As member of the "Asociación de Documentalistas de Puerto Rico," she seeks to promote the development of non-fiction cinema. Darlien travels constantly, but has a base in Puerto Rico.

Watching: Short of the Week
Reading: The Marginalian Blog
Listening: The Tim Ferris Show

Lifestyle & Passions

Crafting meaningful stories that uncover something new about what it means to be human - specially within a natural world. Bringing people together to inspire hope, awareness, and action. Getting moved by and collaborating with organizations and individuals that educate and work for environmental conservation and sustainable living. Watching Chasing Light and having Nat Geo Wild marathons. Hiking, scuba diving, and traveling. Enjoying theatre, music, and time-lapse photography. Everything and anything ocean related. Observing animal behavior or petting animals that don't belong to me. Going for extremely dark chocolate.