Illustration
& Visual Design
Custom projects, editorial illustrations,
book & album covers, posters
I am a self-taught artist, always fascinated by material, light, and the memory that forms preserve.
I studied photography at the European Institute of Design and worked for years in painting restoration, learning to uncover the secrets hidden beneath surfaces. But my perspective on the world began even earlier, in a Milanese antiques shop.
My father was a renowned antiques dealer in the city's art scene and a skilled wood craftsman. From an early age, amidst carvings, restorations, and antique furniture rebuilt piece by piece, I breathed the beauty of time, the love of detail, and the respect for materials. His art—patient, silent, profound—has become a part of me.
I graduated in Translation and lived abroad for many years, traveling to many countries. This has given me an open and international perspective, a sensitivity that transcends borders and constantly fuels my visual exploration.
I transformed all of this into drawing and painting: they are the techniques I feel closest to, the ones in which I find my history and my way of seeing the world.
Each illustration I create is accompanied by my Hanko Mitome-In, a personal stamp hand-engraved on madder wood (Tsuge) by a Japanese craftsman.
In Japanese tradition, the Mitome-In is used in daily life to authenticate documents and simple gestures.
In my works, this stamp represents my artistic signature and my personal logo.
Applying it to my pieces means, for me, certifying the authenticity of my personal commitment, into a vision that merges craftsmanship, symbolism, and attention to detail.
It is a silent seal, yet charged with meaning: it tells that each illustration has been created with soul and hands.
Published on
Faber Castell Italia's Instagram Feed
This very special book, written by Silvia Martella and illustrated by Valentina Ma, was released as a companion to the well-known pedadogue's first book: 'Free Parents. Itineraries for educating without guilt' published by Sonzogno.
INCLUDES:
Concept & draft
Choice of medium
Illustration process
Up to 2 revisions
Digitalization
Final delivery
(high-resolution, print-ready)
No graphic design
INCLUDES:
Concept & draft
Choice of medium
Illustration process
Up to 2 revisions
Digitalization
Final delivery
(high-resolution, print-ready)
No graphic design
INCLUDES:
Tailored illustration projects on request.
Contact me for a personalized quote.
No graphic design
Final delivery
(high-resolution, print-ready)
No graphic design
Valentina Ma
via Edmondo De Amicis, Legnano (MI),
Italy
P. IVA 14323020967