Meet Maria Gabriela Bueno | Artist & Art Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Gabriela Bueno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria Gabriela, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I would say I didn’t choose the artistic path, it chose me. Without art in my life, I would have withered up emotionally. It encompasses my life and the way I think. When I saw the works of
historical artists and contemporary illustrators’ works as a little kid drawing with crayons, I knew
I wanted to achieve that level of artistry, and it has been a lifelong goal and obsession I couldn’t
shake throughout a lot of phases. Even if I chose another path, I wouldn’t be able to erase the
dead set mental dedication I’ve had for so long.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am really drawn to illustrating various animals, characters, and natural scenes that are colorful and flowy. I don’t know if this is the reason for those particular themes, but I grew up with so
many lively siblings who are all so different personality-wise, and around an absurd amount of
aquariums. My dad collects fish and plants, so I grew up with fish looking at me through the
glass while I ate their fellow fish on my dinner plate. My siblings really like animals too, so there
have been lizards, conures, and chickens in the house at some point or another. Other artists
are certainly an influence on me, and my top favorite historical artists are Michelangelo, John
Singer Sargent, Edmund Dulac, and Yoshida Hiroshi. I couldn’t even start naming the multitude
of contemporary artists I look up to. My favorite medium is digital, because of the ability to clean
up easily and explore options more quickly, but I also work in acrylic, pencil, and watercolor at
times. I create illustrations that are imaginative but still grounded in reality. Doing a lot of
research while painting is important to me because it bothers me to cheat how something looks
and not strive for a fair amount of accuracy.

I think I am excited to get closer to a technical level of the artists I grew up admiring. I remember
after college I really wanted to have my work look refined to a certain level, but I was sad that I
had to stop in the middle of some paintings because I couldn’t find what wasn’t working. They
didn’t line up exactly to the images that I envisioned. I have this folder of unfinished work that I
revisit sometimes. And I am proud to say I have resolved some pieces from that period. It really
takes so much patience to develop the right analytical eyes. For me I would be generally critical
but not pinpoint the real problem.

I think just persevering ruthlessly and being critical towards my paintings, has helped me level
me up as an artist. I guess it sounds over-dramatic, but I feel like I am clawing towards a more
perfect painting every time around. For some reason, I am not convinced by Bob Ross’ happy
accident philosophy. I don’t believe emotions should be used often to excuse technical
problems in a painting. I see art as a balance of emotional expression and discipline, and it
starts crumbling when the scales start tipping to an extreme.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If it was a non-summer day, l would take them out at sunrise or sunset to see the inspiring color and lighting of the sky. We would get misu-bing bowls or cute fish ice cream cones at a Korean
dessert place in Goodyear called Sweet Snow. Then we could eat them at the park in Grand
Civic Square, and then walk into the Goodyear library after. Maybe the next day we could go to
Phoenix, get the Sun Devil boba drink at Pop ’N Tea, then stroll through the Japanese
Friendship garden and admire the water lilies. Taking pictures at the Phoenix Zoo and nearby
Botanical Gardens would also be a fun adventure. If it was the first Friday of the month, I’d also
take them to see the First Friday vendors at Roosevelt Row.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My high school teacher, Alison Dunn, encouraged me and gave me resources to dedicate myself to art. She is an incredibly passionate painter and knowledgeable teacher. When I had
my first art history class in high school, I was totally smitten. I would flip through the textbook for
fun. I am so grateful for the way she introduced the subject to me. I always wanted to be in the
art classroom and work overtime into break and lunch, it just felt like a second home. She gave
me so many extra art supplies, some which I still use today. When I started teaching art, I
always had her in my mind as the archetype of what an art teacher should be.

The lovely musician I am engaged to, Dalton Attig, is someone I can bounce ideas off of and
have meaningful conversations with. As a composer, he understands the process and struggles
of the creative discipline and I am so grateful for his love and support.

Website: https://mariabuenoillustration.weebly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canaanitedog/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-gabriela-bueno-illustrator