New Work :: Keep Sweet on Netflix

Last summer I worked on a docuseries for Netflix that dropped on June 8th. This series is difficult to watch, the content is sensitive — I questioned if this was something I should take on. Ultimately, I decided that helping the victims tell their story was important and I wanted to help give visual voice to some of these people who had been silenced and oppressed.

Much of the work I created was cut (showing a couple of images at the bottom of this post) when there was a change in creative direction, but a lot of my ideas are woven in — you can see my illustration/animation in episode 3, about 17 minutes in.

It is wild to see my name on the credits of something so visible. I am really grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of this project.

Big thanks to Creative Direction from Chris Bialkowski at Union Editorial

Recent Projects

Quarantine has been full and I’m grateful.

NPR LIFE Kit Series

New Work | Oprah June 2020

So excited to share my third project with Oprah Magazine for the June 2020 issue! I created these for the feeling good section on topics of future-self therapy, hormone replacement treatment and swapping sugar for healthy options in your diet.

I'm back!

Hi!

I’m here! I’m alive!

I’ve been camping out in the land of pregnancy and new baby (Jacqueline “Q”) + 3 year old Charlie for the past 8 months. All is well but I’ve missed you. I’m sorry for the vanishing act, my intention was never to quit Wordless News or disappear. I’m tired and crazy but I’m here. I’m ready to get back to my routine, my ritual.

Thank you for being patient while I soaked up the mornings with my kids.

Now that I’ve been living in the space of two children I understand that starting my morning at 4:45 am with Wordless News might not happen every day. I would like to say that Wordless News will be back — full force with a daily image —but I’m going to give myself some grace.

Instead of Wordless News returning each morning, I’m going to aim for at least once a week.

I’m excited to get back to it, to hear from followers and support teachers who use WN in their classrooms. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to come back. I haven’t forgotten about this special part of my life I’ve just been nurturing another part.

Thanks for following along and sticking with me. I am committed to this and I’m going to do my best to balancing this practice I love with time for my kiddos, my full time job, and illustration work.

xo,
maria

Wordless News Update

Hi Friends!

If you’ve been following Wordless News you’ve probably noticed I took a hiatus. I’ve creating Wordless News since 2013 and this summer I needed a break. The news is overwhelming at times I just needed to hit pause. I was also battling some serious morning sickness, I’ve got a baby on the way due in late January. Hooray!

I am hoping to get back to the routine of Wordless News in the next few weeks and continue until the baby arrives. At the end of January I will take another hiatus from Wordless News to focus on the new born responsibilities. I will be maintaining freelance work during that time, but I’ll need to take a break from WN.

Wordless News is my passion project. I do not make money creating the images. As our family has grown, I’ve needed to focus on paying work and spending time with my 2 year old over the past couple of years. I’ve certainly missed some important days in the news cycle but this is a season of life when my passion project just needs to be able to shift to the back burner.

I know there are many, many teachers who use Wordless News in the classroom. Several of you have reached out over the past few weeks asking where I’ve been and I want you to know that I am truly grateful that you follow WN and use it in your classroom. I want to continue to be a part of your curriculum as much as possible.

No doubt there will be days I have to miss a post in the coming months but I’m committed to trying to stay in the routine. WN is such a part of my process as an illustrator and I care deeply about the people who support me and follow along.

xo,
Maria