More About Me
Hello! My name is Maura, and I’m a self-taught illustrator, animator, and author. I love everything fantastical and complex, and I hope to share art that resonates with people and brings them joy. I have always found peace and passion in art, and I spent a good amount of my childhood holed up with a book or sketchbook (if not there, then at my piano).
I am currently studying at Rowan University for a BFA in illustration and animation, and I run a popular Instagram account, a growing YouTube channel, a Patreon, and an active Webtoon in my spare time. I have collaborated with three of my professors, multiple local businesses, and most recently the reputable software developer Escape Motions. I am also the gallery assistant for Rowan’s art department, and a gallery exhibition intern for the LBIF. Moving forward, I would love to work as a gallery artist, visual development artist, illustrator, storyboard artist, comic book illustrator, or author.
I’ve dabbled in a little bit of every art medium, but I mainly enjoy making art digitally, sketching in pen, pencil or charcoal, and painting with acrylics, watercolor, or oils. I also animate digitally, and my preferred program is Procraete Dreams. My biggest art inspirations are Disney Renaissance films, Arcane by Fortiche, Sinix and SamDoesArts on YouTube, and the works of Claude Monet and Norman Rockwell.
Q&A
(special thanks to my Instagram followers for the questions!)
How did you get into art?
Honestly, I think I was born already “into” it. I’ve always had an active, vivid imagination, and drawing became my way of taking the images and ideas from my mind and bringing them into the physical world to share.
Do you remember your first ever drawing? If so what was it and do you have a photo?
BAHAH ok I don’t have a photo of it but I distinctly remember my first attempt at a real drawing, it might even be my first conscious memory. I was around 5, and I had just watched Aladdin for the first time, and I wanted to draw the Genie because I liked his character. So I took a blue crayon and scribbled my best scribble, and I was like: (._.) “That doesn’t look like the Genie what the heck.” And then I became determined to get good enough to draw an accurate Genie. I think 5-year-old me would be proud.
What’s your favorite plant or bug?
Ooh!! I’m a big fan of most plants and bugs, though I looove ferns, moss, hibuscus, dandelions, and bleeding hearts. My favorite bugs are moths, caterpillars, bees, pill bugs (rolly polies), and catydids. Though if I keep thinking about this I’ll come up with pages of “favorites.”
If you could rewrite any other animated show what would it be? (Besides miraculous)
I’m not sure! Honestly if I could, I’d want to translate one of my favorite narrative videogames into a comic, like Undertale or Deltarune.
What is your favorite part about drawing?
That’s tricky, because I love every part of it for different reasons, but probably that messy sketch phase in the beginning when you’re just brainstorming as you’re drawing, and you watch something get created! I love getting surprised by what I end up with vs. what I initially planned. Though usually I don’t plan at all lol
When did you know you wanted to do art professionally?
I bounced around a little as a kid wanting to be a pastry chef, or actor, or architect, or mad scientist… but in my gut I knew I needed a career where I would be making art. It just lights up my soul like nothing else.
What’s your favorite thing to draw?
I love drawing anything organic. People, plants, animals, etc. So naturally, I chose to illustrate a comic that takes place in a city.
Do you prefer hand drawing or digital drawing?
Hmm, I do like both, but when it comes down to sketching, nothing beats ol’ pen and paper. But I do love how easy it is to turn a digital sketch into a finished piece, beacuse half the time I doodle on napkins and paper scraps.