Maura O’Connor is an illustrator based in the rolling farmlands of Central New York. Working primarily in Pen and Ink, her work is influenced by a childhood of pulling weeds in her father’s vegetable garden, and a deep love of folklore and folk music. Her textural ink illustrations are inspired by the small, cozy details of the natural world around her as much as they are by the dark sweeping fantasy of an Appalachian murder ballad. Her work aims to transport the viewer to a whimsical, childlike view of a life spent in nature with a mysterious undertone of the supernatural lurking just below the dirt.
After living 10 years on the North Shore of Massachusettes she has collected a large portfolio of Coastal New England themed Watercolors, and regards Marblehead Massachusettes as her second home. She returns to visit often and always brings her sketchbook and camera. Her stationary line featuring her many watercolor paintings inspired by the seaside town can be found all across the North Shore.
When she’s not working on art you can usually find her in her garden and greenhouse listening to folk music and attempting to make friends with frogs and snails, playing Banjo (poorly) with her Husband Kyle, or reading fantasy novels, cozied up with her two cats Fig and Lemons.
Her work can be found in children’s books, on album covers, on beer cans, and in galleries. She has been featured on College Humor, The Boston Globe, and HGTV.
