Introducing María Jesús, is a Chilean artist born in the south of her country in a rainy little town.
María Jesús Contreras illustrations are inspired by her early age, and the 90’s style especially the colourful posters of supermarkets and other stores. She loves working with analog techniques like risograph printing. Maria is currently exploring posters from the 70s and psychedelia, while most of her drawings feature animals and different creatures. She holds a minor in arts and a degree in design. She has worked with clients such as Wetransfer, Universal Music, Elektra records, love watts, We Present, and Domestika, Collateral.
When did you start illustrating?
I have been drawing since I can remember and before! I only call it illustration because it calls this illustration when you do it for a living in college and academia.
Who has been the most supportive in your illustration career, perhaps your teacher, family, friends?
My father, who forced me to give up my engineering degree and told me to study what I liked the most in life. My teachers at school from a very young age, my classmates, actually I was lucky that they all believed in me until I believed it too.
Did you always think art was something that was going to be a major part of your life?
Yes
What is your favourite subject matter to illustrate?
I like creatures, animals and plants, Little objects. sometimes I feel that history has already paid enough attention to us human beings.
How would you describe your style?
mm saturated, in every way, in colour, in intensity, line message, I always try to replicate the risograph and grainy textures, strong shadows, etc digitally, I like supermarket packaging and badly photoshopped advertising posters
.
What is your favourite collaboration to date?
I must say that it has not yet been released to the public, but I made an animated video of many paintings with Warner Music. (Elektra Records)
Then and an amazing one for WeTransfer, about educational videos at school. That I enjoyed a lot.
What interested you about being represented by Illo Agency?
I want to reach more people, I see that illo has a lot of illustrations with children's books and publishing in general, I would like to know more about this world, particularly in music, album covers, and music, etc.
Do you have a favourite author, film director, or designer?
Difficult question, I like everything!, but film directors could say that I really like Yorgos Lanthimos, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg.
writers: Franz Kafka
Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?
Yes !, I am currently collaborating with a well-known brand of sneakers and sportswear that uses a check sign for something that represents Chile in the Copa America. I am very excited. (I hope everything goes well)
Do you listen to podcasts? If so, do you have a favourite?
illustration Hour by Julia du fossé, and any crime and mystery, I usually listen to long audiobooks to spend days working, the last I heard was Anna Karenina.
If you have any questions or a specific project in mind, please do get in touch: [email protected]
at illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.