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InspirationIllustration

María Luque's rich and colourful illustrations that reveal life in South America

Gouache, coloured pencils, markers, watercolours and acrylics – these are just some of the many materials Argentinian illustrator María Luque brings together to create her rich South American inspired artworks.

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Vibrant illustration of a busy red and pink café interior with numerous people seated at tables, standing and socialising, with shelves of colourful bottles on the wall behind

"I've been drawing since I was little, ever since I can remember. I think I really never stopped doing it," says María, when we ask about her background. "I think there is a connection between how I used to draw when I was little and the way I do now, at least in the attitude. I used to love drawing with my friends and it’s something I still do nowadays. I went to art school, studied there for a few years and I learned a lot, but in the end I dropped out.

"I started to attend workshops by artists I was interested in and to go to residences in order to educate myself outside academic institutions. I’m still learning everyday, especially from my friends and colleagues."

Where does she get her inspiration? "Things that happened to me because I’m the person I know best," says María. "I'm also on the lookout for whatever happens to my friends or situations I spot on the street. I also love art history and I'm very curious about artists' lives. There are a lot of artists I feel affinity with, such as Matisse, Marina Abramović or David Hockney but I also like folk art and outsider artists like Bill Traylor or Lee Godie."

These influences are especially evident in this particular series. You can discover more on her online portfolio.

Colourful illustrated collage of small drawings featuring people, objects and text labels in Spanish arranged on a wall behind a yellow chair, created with gouache and mixed media by María Luque
Illustration of a woman sitting on a bed in a red-tiled room with framed artworks covering the red wall behind her, by María Luque
Illustration by María Luque showing a cosy interior with two cats on a pink table, a white cat on a chair, potted plant, bookshelves and framed artwork on black background
María Luque's illustrated bedroom scene filled with colourful artworks, patterned textiles, a bookshelf, decorative vessels and a bed with a figure sitting on it
María Luque illustration showing two cats sitting on a bench watching a mermaid playing guitar on a dark wall with planes, plants and a piano keyboard, surrounded by colourful patterned walls
Woman in red clothing sits at a desk surrounded by vibrant textiles and tapestries featuring colourful patterns, plants and figures in María Luque's illustrative style
Colourful illustration by María Luque depicting a woman sitting on a patterned chair in a vibrant room with artworks on the walls, including a nude figure, a red rooster and a classical profile portrait
Woman relaxing on a bed in a colourful bedroom with bookshelves, framed artworks and a cat, surrounded by patterned walls
Illustration of a red room with a person lying on a bed surrounded by framed portraits, books, plants and a ceiling fan, by María Luque
Interior scene with a woman in pink lying on a yellow bed while a man in blue sits nearby, surrounded by colourful patterned wallpapers and fabrics in reds, teals and golds
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