Maria Carmela is an artist and art teacher based in San Francisco. She has been painting and drawing for over 20 years in various mediums, which include Oil, Acrylic, Gouache, and Watercolor. She often uses graphite, ink, and colored pencils for dry mediums. Inspired by pop-surrealism, anime, photorealism, and street art during her academic years. Her visual aesthetic has grown significantly from the traditional techniques from classical realism to representational. Having resided in countries around Asia and experiencing different cultures has influenced her art and the ideas that she tries to convey.

 

   Maria’s art attempts to have viewers enter her own visual environment that parallels personal experiences, imagination, and cultures. From those attributes stem an art style that is constantly evolving. She finds that her figures represent the personal, which can sometimes serve as both self-portraits and simply portraits. While showcasing what best reflects her spirit and stories, this artist is on a journey of finding a balance between grit and softness.