Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliamaria Madrid Crawford.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Eliamaria Madrid. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
There’s really no interesting or rough life story that grew into my starting of art. I was born and raised in San Angelo, Texas and was always supported by my amazing parents to just do what I loved to do as long as I was a good person. Simple enough and I couldn’t ask for more.
The box-figure style, that I still illustrate in today, started in high school. It was just little doodles on teachers’ whiteboards and in my school notes. I would add a snarky speech bubble to them every now and then to express my humor. I loved making people laugh (and still do).
When I was a junior in high school, I was in a production of The Wizard of Oz with the civic theatre. I played the lion and it was probably the peak of my acting career. Anyway, I became friends with the technical crew over the course of the show and as an end-of-show gift, I made a comic based on a technical mishap that happened with our sound technician that made us all laugh. The sound technician and stage manager, Javi and Taylor, told me about the world of webcomics after seeing my comic. I had never heard of it, as I was pretty sheltered growing up. They encouraged me to keep making comics and post them online to share.
I made comics mainly centering around inside jokes with friends and just kept at it until college.
Once I got to college, my eyes opened up a wee bit more because I realized that inside jokes only resonate with like four to five people. So, I decided to take my comic strips up a notch making sure that my website and humor stepped up. Within the year of the relaunch, I was already invited to guest at my first convention. It was surreal.
While in college, (UT Arlington, in case I forget to mention it elsewhere) though I was going for my degree in theatre, I was still going along with Elia in a Box Comics as much as I could between classes, rehearsals, and college shenanigans. I applied to be the comic artist for The Shorthorn newspaper almost every semester, and never got the job. Funny enough, I got hired before my final year at UTA: the semester after I gave up applying. Upon hire, I launched my comic series called “The World According to Allan Saxe,” comic shorts centered around the campus-famed professor. I did these and other university-related comics all the way up until graduation, I eventually graduated from college with a degree in Theatre. I had no prospects or possibilities lined up in that field, but many possibilities up for grabs in my illustration life. So, I decided to run through life being an illustrator, and that honestly made me feel worlds happier.
About a year and a half after graduating (I think. I can’t math), I got my first book published called HUMANS REALLY IRRITATE ME which happened to be the complete collection of Allan Saxe comic strips made of the quotes I had collected in my classes. Along with that, I launched my YouTube channel which is centered around my art life and adventures hoping to encourage indie artists to get their art out there and showcase different shows. I hope to make more comic books, illustrate children’s books, and well..possibilities are endless with art and I love it.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The main struggles I’ve dealt with are just the comic industry and how I’m accepted or not into it. The comic world seems so exclusive to me.
I find myself never being able to prove myself as a comic artist based on who I am and what I do.
I’m Latina. So, I can’t be a real comic artist.
I’m a woman. So, I can’t be a real comic artist.
I draw webcomics. So, those can’t be real comics.
Thankfully, being told no or that I can’t just motivate me to prove otherwise.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Elia in a Box Studios – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I started out with just Elia in a Box: The Webcomic initializing just launching my online comic. I evolved into Elia in a Box Comics when I moved onto making many other works with my comics such as spoofs, strips for other publications, and just my occasional off-the-webcomic strip. Now, I am Elia in a Box Studios. I focus on not just my comics, but now with media in my videos and illustrations for all the projects I am part of.
I specialize in just being simply silly. I love making people laugh, if even just for a second with my minimal art and loud humor. I’m known for my dry humor and box-figures to express it for me.
I’m proud that I established this little brand as a 17-year-old. What started out as a hobby, is now the biggest light of my life. I’m also in love with the endless possibilities my illustrations can achieve.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I hope to illustrate more books and make more comics. Mainly for children because I am a firm believer in keeping imagination alive. I want to be a storyteller with my art inspiring someone is one of the best feelings.
I also want to do more video work with my art. I have no experience in animation, but I want to learn. I feel like I need to at this point.
Pricing:
- I do commissions starting at $15.
- Custom art projects will usually be $20/hour, within reason
- All other items in my shop start at $3 and up, depending on the item
Contact Info:
- Website: http://studios.eliainabox.com
- Email: eliainabox@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliainabox/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eliainabox/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/eliainabox
- Other: http://www.eliainabox.com
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