Happy New Year!

Ok last post of 2011! i know i made the New Year spiel in my last post, but I wanted to share a new drawing in my superhero pin up series and a fun little inspiration board I put together.

I wanted to work on DC comics batgirl/Barbara Gordon because I just love the fact that she is a librarian, and that she uses her knowledge as well as physical skill to fight crime! I really wanted to make her look like a sassy librarian from the 60s/70s and this one is my personal favorite in the whole series. I like the way her outfit and her hair came out the best!

I have always loved working on inspiration boards and trend boards (I still get to do that stuff at my day job, just with kids clothes and fashions--still fun!!) So i wanted to put together a little board of artwork and people and images that inspire my work, most specifically inspired the superhero pin up series.
Pin up art of the 30s-50s is probably my number one inspiration, I have always liked the popular artists like Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas, but I am really drawn to the work of Enoch Bolles most of all. I love the way he draws their faces and their poses are dynamic and lots of fun. I also have been looking at the work of Peter Driben, most specifically his covers for girlie mags like Titter, Wink, Eyeful etc. I have also kind of recently discovered the work of Bruce Timm. Not that I am a comic book expert! (I like comics, but mostly I love how ingrained in American history comic book characters are. What's more American than Superman?) The rest of my inspiration for the series is definitely kitschy "big eyed girl" art which was started by artist Margaret Keane. Another favorite of mine is definitely French "graffiti" artist Fafi. Her work is so creative, cute, fun and playful, I'd love to see some of her works in person. I also love old Disney cartoons and comic books (I have a little collection of Disney comics from the 50s-80s) I am not into dolls at all, but I think Blythe is so cute! I love her big eyes and serious expression and her fashions are so crazy! The other images up there that I love are paper dolls from the 70s. I think they are amazingly designed. I love their fashions most of all!
and who could talk about pin up art without mentioning pin up queen, Bettie Page?

So that's a little peek into whats swimming around inside my head. Among thousands of other things I love. I can talk about my influences and art I love all day long.

Hope everyone has an awesome New Year! Can't wait to see what 2012 will bring!
xoxo
Maria

Comics Alliance!

Hope everyone out there has had a wonderful holiday season and is gearing up for a fabulous New Year! Its no secret I love this time of year, but I am ready for 2012! I have had some ups and downs in 2011, and I am ready for a brand new year to start! I don't really do resolutions (too much pressure!) but I have some personal goals I have been working on for a few months, and as always, one of my main goals is to keep going with my artwork, and to do more of it and branch out with different styles/commissions etc. I am working on some new pieces in the superhero pin up series that I am excited to share with everyone. (if you are a "fan" on my facebook page, you will have seen a sneak peek!) Another artistic goal of mine is to finally finish my pin up cocktails recipe book! It's almost done I just have to find some time and motivation to finish.

But some exciting news! I was featured on the super awesome blog comicsalliance.com! it was a huge surprise to say the least, and the write up was really sweet. Needless to say I was greatly honored. Click here to check out the article!

and thanks to friends Paigey and Fenny of Little Asian Sweatshop for calling the article to my attention! Check them out!

Again, I hope everyone has a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Out with the old in with the new :)

VIntage Circus art

Greetings! I started this piece a few weeks ago but forgot to finish it. I blame all the Christmas festivities! anyway, I decided to revisit it and finish it because I knew it had potential and I am glad I did. I have wanted to do some vintage circus/freak show poster inspired art because I always love to combine art with typography. Anyway, I think she came out pretty cute! In case you want to take her home, she is available for sale in my etsy shop. There is still time to pick this and anything else in my store up for Christmas. I ship priority so get your domestic orders in by Dec 19 for Christmas delivery! Also my BLACKFRIDAY coupon for 25% off on anything in my store expires tomorrow!

Happy Holidays

Ok, I know its not Christmas yet, but I am a bit of a Christmas nerd--no not a bit, a lot! I love it all! I started decorating my apartment and got inspired to design this years Christmas card. I actually love the way it came out! I put this card up for sale on etsy if you'd like to send your friends and family a naughty Christmas pin up. Grandma would love it! :)

Holiday sale!

Wow almost Christmas time already? Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love all the decorations, the smell of Christmas trees, the baking, the yummy food and of course the presents! So I am restocking my etsy page throughout the month, and offering 25% off all sales, and of course, all orders come with a free gift (its a surprise!) so use code BLACKFRIDAY at my etsy store for 25% off and bring home some unique gifts for yourself or someone you love, while supporting a small business :) Check it out!

Harry Potter!

I have been sick with an ear infection--in both ears :( for the last week, so I have been laying low at home this weekend trying to recover... It has been playing a Harry Potter marathon all weekend long on TV, and inspiration to do a Hermione fan art piece struck! I have always liked Hermione she's--smart, good in school, she likes reading, cats, has curly hair and is brave and a bad ass. A great role model for young females in a day and age where there are so few! I know Harry Potter is very special to many people, and I hope I did Hermione some justice with this drawing :)

Happy Reading!

Here is a bookplate I designed over the summer that was given as a free gift for pre ordering the girls drawin girls vol IV book. There were lots of beautiful bookplates designed, and I wonder who got mine? Anyway, I liked the illustration so much I wanted to share it on my blog. I am also selling it on my etsy as a 4x6 print or bookplate. Check it out and happy reading!

New York Comic Con

Its that time of year again! girls drawin girls will have a booth at New York Comic Con in the Javits center. The convention goes from October 13-16. We are going to be located in Artists Alley, booth O1

I will be working the table on Sunday afternoon so come and say hi! I will have my super hero girls and some other prints for sale, and our book The Way Nature Made Her will also be for sale, not to mention lots of other art and products from everyone in the group. NYCC is always a really fun time so come on out.

Great Big Book of Fashion Illustration

Hello all!
Despite a personally trying and tumultuous couple of weeks, I am back with some great news on the art front! 4 of my illustrations are going to be featured in this book and I am very excited. It's a great fashion illustration source book with 416 pages of full color illustrations from illustrators all over the world and I am honored to be included. I was first contacted by the publisher in April 2010 and I remember thinking how far away Fall 2011 was but now it is finally here! So check it out! its is available on amazon.com but the official release date is October 4 in the US.
click the cover to get to the amazon.com listing.

wonder woman!

I can't believe summer is almost over! This one went by really quick! I have had a pretty productive summer art wise, and I am taking an interest in doing a bit more with jewelry (dabbled a little bit with some rings and brooches), but more on that to come. I have decided to keep going with my super heroes and villains pin ups, and this time around, everyones favorite, Wonder Woman! I like the way she came out! For this one, I felt there was a lot going on already so I left out the words.

What do you think?