Mariaelena Caputi

Roma RM, Italy

Illustration

Illustration | About Mariaelena

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a megaphone made from a traffic cone.

A couple of illustrations by Mariaelena Caputi. The first one portrays strong biceps made of coins and banknotes. The second one shows a plant whose fruits are money.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of some bricks in the shape of speech bubbles that, all together, build a solid structure.

Cover illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a globe icon that becomes a chinese lantern. It highlights the risks and opportunities of doing business in China.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a scale - a metaphor for the legal system - with the appearance of a face that becomes sad and disappointed.

An illustration series by Mariaelena Caputi on how buyers, sellers and renters are in for more twists and turns, as soaring mortgage rates and stubborn inflation signal belt tightening ahead.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi showing the silhouettes of a man who becomes thin from obese. While a doctor's prescription appears within the silhouettes of the obese man and the overweight man, symbolizing the state of illness in which the subject pours, it is not visible within the silhouette of the thin man.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi depicting a gramophone whose trumpet is replaced by a yellow cone-shaped flower. It is a tribute to spring, which returns every year to warm our hearts.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a magic crystal ball inside which a DNA sequence appears.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of an abortion pill blister pack that becomes a closed padlock.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi showing a globe made of tangled branches and two lone leaves that bravely manage to sprout from one of them.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a braid made of birds ready to take flight. The image is about the protests of the brave Iranian women who have taken to the streets to demand liberation from state repression and justice for Masha Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman murdered by the morality police.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a skull made from several military elements such as tanks, planes and submarines.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a flower whose corolla is a round table with several digital workstations and whose stem is made of circuits.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a woman whose dress is a seashell. She dances gracefully evoking the delights of summer, a season during which life seems to be easier.

A series of illustrations by Mariaelena Caputi for the Jan-Feb 2023 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi which represents the icon of the world, whose lines become roads branching off in different directions. The image symbolizes the uncertainty of the current global economic regime and the importance of not being unprepared for the potential transformations that it may soon undergo.

A series of illustrations by Mariaelena Caputi that celebrates the longest-running brands on the Franchise 500 list, delves into what it takes to be the best in the business and features the fastest-growing franchises in 2023.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of the female symbol that, turned upside down, becomes a tombstone. It's a metaphor for the deprivation of an important constitutional right for the female gender.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of an American flag made of colored pencils.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a fireworks, radial sun made of covid 19 testing swabs.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a thermometer equipped with an alarm siren.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of an hourglass containing a melting glacier.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a stamp made from a packet of mifepristone and misoprostol.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a shattered column trying to regain its balance.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi on how COVID-19 has left thousands with a distorted or lost sense of smell. Researchers are getting a clearer idea. This understanding and a growing awareness of olfactory disorders could help others facing smell loss from COVID-19 or other causes.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of an alarm clock made from a slice of lemon.

A couple of illustrations by Mariaelena Caputi on how the increasing use of fertilizers and pesticides as well as by agricultural intensification have caused the bird populations to decline. The first illustration depicts a seed on whose surface is engraved a skull, a universal symbol for highlighting the toxicity of poisonous substances. The second one shows a now uninhabited birdhouse with a sign that reads, " We've moved."

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a young woman climbing a pyramid of stones.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a shoe that is half sandal and half boot. It is a representation of the climate changes that are affecting the entire world and that in Italy have caused severe flooding in the north and intense heat in the south, dividing the country into two parts.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a plastic fish served in a dish.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a world that is no longer interconnected.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of an ear sitting on a chair.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a boxing glove equipped with a mouth.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of an eye whose pupil is a play symbol.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a slice of pizza pierced by an arrow as if it were a heart.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a power button whose bar is replaced by a baobab tree.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi with two podiums and two swords ready to duel.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi in which Rodin's Thinker entrusts his memories to Google Search.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of three cups of coffee which create an equal number of question marks.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a series of doughnuts that make up a loading icon.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a padlock whose clasp is shaped like a house.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a concealed tax return form signed by Trump.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a tic-tac-toe where smiles win.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a phone containing a doormat.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a blindfolded Cupid shooting an arrow.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a partially pixelated brush.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a lush, flowering brain.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a balloon lifting a huge weight.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a ballon-shaped sticker.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a grey cloud thundering lightning bolts of dollars and yuan.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of an angry star lowering her thumb.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a teenager who escapes the rules.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a collar made of gavels.

An illustration by Mariaelena Caputi of a questioning eye.

About Mariaelena

Illustration | About Mariaelena

Bio

Mariaelena Caputi studied Fine Arts, Graphic Design and Multimedia in Rome, Milan and Salamanca. Her professional activity moves between Illustration and Design. Through a conceptual and multidisciplinary approach, she creatively blends different media such as photography, illustration and everyday objects, always looking for the best way to bring ideas to life.

selected Clients

The New York Times, Time, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, NJ Monthly, Harvard Business Review, McKinsey Quarterly, Foreign Affairs Magazine, University of Miami Medicine Magazine, C&EN, NextGov/FCW, NYU Scope Magazine, Il Manifesto, PD – Democratic Party, European Union, Italy EXPO Dubai 2020, RISO – Museo regionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Palermo, The Foundry 360, Philip Morris, Moleskine, Wind-Tre, Amaro Montenegro, Monk Club.

INterview with Mariaelena caputi

How old were you when first realized you wanted to become an artist?

Deep down I think I've always known that. When I was a little girl, I nagged my mother to buy me any magazine about art or DIY. I liked to draw and paint, but mostly I enjoyed modeling and assembling objects so as to create new ones. I also loved to read whatever I could get my hands on. I was and still am eager to discover new things all the time. Making creativity a profession was a natural choice for me.

Do you still have any of your early artwork?

Needless to say. I'm particularly fond of my early creations. Also, I think keeping track of my work is very important because it allows me to realize if and how I'm progressing.

Have you studied art formally?

Yes, I studied Visual Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and Salamanca. Later, I attended the Academy of Arts and New Technologies. During this period I specialized in Graphic Design, Advertising and Multimedia. Also, I took part in some illustration workshops at the Mimaster, in Milan.

Is there an artist whose work you admire? What is it about their artwork that intrigues you?

There are many artists, illustrators as and graphic designers that I admire. Among them are, for example, Marcel Duchamp, Armando Testa, Paul Rend and Bruno Munari. Their work has been and continues to be a source of inspiration in many ways. The aspects that fascinate me the most are the completely original way they look at the world, the sharpness of their minds, and the experimental nature of their artistic research.

Where do you find inspiration, concepts or images for your illustrations? Do you have a purpose, a key message about important topics you wish to portray through your artwork?

Basically everywhere! Movies, music, books or just everyday life are an endless mine of inspiration. I guess the most important part of the whole creative process is when the ideas are outlined. In my opinion, illustration is not just a beautiful drawing, designed to cover a blank page. It is rather a powerful resource. By means of it, it is possible to convey messages and information on which viewers are free to reflect critically.

What clues might you provide to help viewers understand your art?

If my audience needed clues, it would mean I didn't do my job right! I believe that an illustration should aim to be both original, understandable, and of course visually appealing.

Can you describe your creative process?

My creative process works much the same as a crossword puzzle, whose gaps need to be filled not with words, but with pictures. Just as in the game, multiple words might fit a definition, but in the end only one will turn out to be correct. Similarly, I begin by reading the text carefully and identifying key concepts. Next, I brainstorm about them and imagine possible visual solutions that could adequately represent them. Then, I start sketching all the ideas that came to mind until I find something that works well. Finally, I ask the art director for their feedback and, according to their advice and needs, I finalize the work or, if necessary, rethink the topic for better solutions.

What tools do you use most in your work?

My camera, Photoshop and, of course, my mind are my favorite tools.

How do you re-charge when a difficult assignment nears the deadline?

I try not to overthink it. This usually helps me reduce stress and get back the energy I need to complete the job.

What is your favorite activity when you take a break from the studio?

I don't have a favorite activity, but I always try to spend my breaks away from the screen, maybe visiting an exhibit, taking a walk, or just hanging out with friends.

What would be your dream illustration assignment?

I treat every project as a new and challenging challenge. That's why I always consider what I'm working on as my dream assignment and try to complete it as best I can.