Estibaliz Hernández de Miguel: I Bring the Magic, You Bring the Cookies

I Bring the Magic, You Bring the Cookies, by Estibaliz Hernández.
15% of the sale of this print goes to Médecins Sans Frontières.

Estibaliz Hernández de Miguel is a self-taught artist, freelance illustrator, and amateur storyteller who lives in Bilbao, Spain, and works under the name of Pintameldia (this stands for Paintmyday).

For twenty years she had been involved in the music industry - managing bands, founding an indie record label, writing in music zines, promoting concerts, and running a chain of record stores. This connection to music appears throughout her artwork. Even though as a child she always liked to draw, she took up a pen and a sketchbook late in her twenties and only stopped for a brief time when her first daughter was born. She took it up again later when the craving to make art was too loud to bear.

She has collaborated on several projects, designing for an Argentinean fashion brand, and promoting her own project, “We are a Happy Family”, along with eight international artists. She is currently working on some children’s books.



About the print:
This print was inspired by a series of drawings I had made for a new calendar. I wanted to create an image of a shared magical moment. It was originally titled "We Will Make Wishes, Steal the Magic, and Have a Good Time", but one of my kids came up with a title that suited it better: "I Bring the Magic, You Bring the Cookies".

This is a digital print on acid free, Neenah uncoated matte 100lb cover paper that is 80% recycled. It was digitally signed by the artist and was numbered by The Working Proof.

PURCHASE $30!

Tell us about your process?
Usually I have an image in mind, and if I am in bed and cannot sketch it, I write down a description before the image fades away. I don’t make many sketches before sitting down to draw the piece. A rough pencil sketch suffices for me.

I can have several projects going on at once, but when I start a new piece, it is hard for me to stop. I like to see it finished, as it is in my mind. The sooner the better - it’s a relief to see the final version of my idea on paper.

What has inspired you recently?
My inspiration comes, more often than not, from my dreams, music, and music lyrics. Sometimes a conversation or a photograph triggers an image in my head. Every time I open a book, there is a sure chance of being inspired. That said, lately I feel attracted to anything that has to do with magic - in the sense that magic comes from within and is part of what makes us unique as individuals. It is obvious that I am always inspired by feminine interaction, too, and I like to play with the idea of women bringing light or darkness to the world.

On the other hand, I’ve found out that it is good for me to draw something totally different from my usual pieces every now and then. That is how I came up with some children’s drawings and have developed them into a series of books. This brings new perspectives to me.

Why did you choose to pair Médecins Sans Frontières with your print?
I chose MSF because saving lives is, without a question, as heroic as can be. MSF provides medical aid to those in need of care, no matter the geographic, political situation, or religious beliefs. It means a lot to me to contribute to them in this way.



How have you seen art transform the world around you?
Well, art has certainly transformed my world, and it is changing my kids’ lives and way of seeing things. In fact, it’s become irreplaceable. Making art makes me happier and a better person. I only wish I could communicate this through my artwork. That would be a great accomplishment.

If you could pick one artist to mentor you, who would it be?
There are so many artists that I admire – Gauguin, Rousseau...I am also sure there are dozens of living artists that could mentor me. I do know that I am in need of some learning, but right now the one artist that comes to my mind is Jiro Taniguchi, because I’d have so much fun. I love his comics; they are moving and beautiful. Most of all, I would like to be a fly on the wall in many artists’ studios, so I could see their creative process and learn from them.

Who are some artists you think people should know about?
Well, the roster of artists you have at The Working Proof would be a good starting point. Also Clare Rojas, Marcel Dzama, Margaret Kilgallen, Henry Darger, Richard Coleman, Laura Levine, Pepa Prieto, Blanca Helga, Betsy Walton, Thereza Rowe, Alexandra Hedberg, Elisabeth Bauman, Amanda Blake, Juliana Swaney, Katy Horan, Sanna Annuka, Jennifer Davis, Lis Timpone, Monica Canilao, Ana Montiel, Natascha Rosenberg, Allyson Mellberg-Taylor, Anthony Zinonos, Pakayla Biehn, Ricardo Cavolo, and so on. Sorry, but I am sure missing a lot of names here.