Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria.
Hi Maria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been passionate about storytelling and creation, and I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. Growing up, I was very close to my grandmothers and my grandfather, who were all creatives in their own way. My grandmothers taught me to knit, crochet, sew, and embroider, and many times I used the walls of their houses as big canvases for my crayon murals as a little kid. My grandfather painted as a hobby, and he was one of the inspirations that encouraged me to pursue a career in painting before I transitioned to illustration.
I was born and raised in Santiago, Chile, where I started my studies as a painting major. Almost three years into my degree, I had the opportunity to come study in the States, where I began pursuing a degree in Illustration with a minor in Art History. Currently, I’m a senior at SCAD Atlanta, where I’ve had the opportunity to meet amazing people who continue to inspire me in my journey.
Today, I continue to nurture my passion for illustration. My work leans heavily towards a storybook and whimsical aesthetic, and I draw a lot of inspiration from nature. I’m interested in various aspects of illustration, but my main focus is book illustration. My goal is to bring the stories on the page to life with rich and heartwarming illustrations.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but I don’t believe any career comes without its struggles. I think the main challenge when pursuing a career in the arts is mustering the courage and determination to put your creations out into the world. Personally, I struggle a lot with self-doubt, and I believe overcoming that and deciding that my work is worth showing to the world has been one of my biggest challenges. I’ve been very lucky to always have the support of my family and those around me when it comes to my career, which I think has helped me in those moments of insecurity.
Another challenge I had to overcome was coming to a different country and adapting to my new surroundings. Coming to Atlanta to study was a very sudden opportunity, and the first couple of months were definitely the hardest. I had to deal with culture shock, language barrier, and the feelings of loneliness that usually come with these kinds of changes. I’ve been here for three years now, and I believe going through these struggles not only strengthened me as a person but also made my work flourish into what it is now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an illustrator, and I specialize in advertising and book illustration, but I have also ventured into some surface design and motion media. My work is fun and whimsical, and I lean a lot towards a storybook type of aesthetic. I draw inspiration from nature, art history, and other creatives that inspire me, such as Fran Meneses, aka Frannerd.
Linework is one of the most prominent aspects of my illustrations, and I love getting all those little details to create textures, patterns, and movement throughout my compositions. I believe those little details are what really push the narrative of my illustrations forward.
What I’m most proud of is how far my style has developed in the last years, and how it has become something that sets my work apart and makes it recognizable. I’m also very proud of one of my personal projects, an illustrated edition of “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I have taken risks throughout my career, but I feel like I’m too nervous a person define myself as a risk-taker. I think the biggest risk I’ve taken was actually transferring to SCAD. Since I was also taking on a new major, I pretty much had to start my studies all over again. I was a rising senior, and making this decision was not easy, especially taking into consideration all of the other aspects that would come with this change. I do think that taking risks is the best way of discovering new aspects of yourself and your work, and learning to adapt and grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maria-illustration.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascella._/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-jesus-benavides-b03804247/
