Bella Pilar illustrated for JAFRA Cosmetics' Stronger Together 2013 National Conference and Leader Meeting. Bella's chic fashionistas can be seen on the conference website and on a special limited-edition collectors bag available as a special gift to conference attendees. The conference took place January 17th to 19th in Palm Springs, CA.
Bella Pilar and long-time client, Papyrus, celebrated fashion for the second year in a row as proud supporters of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City, February 7th to 14th. Bella's chic fashionistas in luxurious emerald appeared on the show schedule's cover, press passes and VIP tote bags, with Papyrus’ most fashion-forward cards prominently displayed in the foyer of the Lincoln Center entrance.
Bella's fashionable illustrations have become a trademark of the Papyrus brand and she was on-hand at the Papyrus display in Lincoln Center February 9th and 10th to sign the custom, foil-embossed cards she created especially for the week-long event. Attendees were invited to browse Papyrus' selection of fashion-inspired cards and share their Fashion Week experience by sending their favorites to family and friends with Papyrus providing complimentary postage to anywhere in the world.
Bella is no newcomer to Fashion Week, she spent many seasons doing makeup in Bryant Park when she worked as a makeup artist. "It’s very cool to have my hand in it again, years later," she says, "it feels like I’ve come full circle."
Bella Pilar's canvas tote bag for Papyrus could be glimpsed in a recent episode of CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs. The show follows the misadventures of two young Brooklynites and their efforts to start their own cupcake business.
Bella Pilar has three holiday-themed puzzles available from Barnes & Noble. Produced with manufacturers Andrews & Blaine, the glitter-embellished puzzles feature some of Bella’s most popular seasonal artwork. Decked Out and Tree of Treats are both 500-pieces and measure 14 x 19 inches, while Holiday Angel has 160-pieces and measures 7.38 x 10.25 inches. They are available in Barnes & Noble stores and on the Barnes & Noble website.
Bella Pilar and Papyrus have teamed up once again to fight breast cancer with the Chic Warrior Princess card. Featuring a fierce fashionista in leopard print and embellished with silver foil and glitter, the inside reads 'You are one amazing, inspiring, beautiful Warrior Princess / Stay strong and carry on!'. Twenty-five cents from the sale of each card will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Bella Pilar recently released two Halloween-themed puzzles for Barnes & Noble. Produced with manufacturers Andrews & Blaine, the 500-piece puzzles measure 14x19 inches and feature some of Bella's most popular seasonal artwork. Stella and Home Sweet Home are available in Barnes & Noble stores and on the Barnes & Noble website.
Bella Pilar and long-time client Papyrus are front and center at the 2013 Spring/Summer shows at Fashion Week in New York (Sept. 6-13). Bella's luxe fashionista in black lace appears on the show schedule's cover and press passes for the Mercedes-Benz sponsored event, with Papyrus' most fashion-forward cards prominently displayed in the foyer of the Lincoln Center entrance.
With celebrities and top fashion editors sporting the press ‘credentials’ emblazoned with Bella’s artwork, she headed straight to Lincoln Center to soak it all in. “I grew up in a high rise on 62nd and Broadway, and spent years looking out my bedroom window at Lincoln Center.” says Bella Pilar. “I went to LaGuardia High School, the ‘Fame’ high school of music and the arts, where I studied art and cut through Lincoln Center to and from school, even my high school graduation was there. So having my artwork floating around Lincoln Center during the biggest fashion event in New York has a lot of personal meaning, it’s a piece of home for me.”
The Papyrus area included a display of featured cards available for attendees to take home, or if they preferred, to fill in and address then and there, and drop into the 'mail slot' on the wall. Papyrus was happy to mail them, covering postage to anywhere in the world. A concept that people loved, with hundreds of cards shipped to international destinations.
Bella signed many cards on-site, and being that the area was positioned under the media balcony, shared the space with the comings and goings of the E! Fashion Police shoots with Joan Rivers, Kimora Lee Simmons, Kelly Osborne, etc.
As for Fashion Week, she’s no newcomer to the shows themselves, she spent many seasons doing makeup in Bryant Park behind those runways when she worked as a makeup artist. “It’s very cool to have my hand in it again, years later,” she says, “it feels like I’ve come full circle.”
Bella Pilar's illustrations can be seen on a line of wine glasses and keychains from Santa Barbara Design Studio, wholesale manufacturers of ceramic plates and mugs and elegant kitchen and garden décor.
This summer, we're presenting a selection of our artists' favorite books. From dark, to funny, to just plain strange, this summer reading list gives you a peek inside each artist's life, likes, and literary predilections.
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ELEANOR GROSCHThe Road by Cormac McCarthy. "Disturbing, horrific, and somehow hauntingly beautiful." The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. "Really fun with a nice dark quality."
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HENNIE HAWORTHCall the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. "Recently I've been enjoying reading a book called Call the Midwife. It's the true story of a midwife working in London's East End in the 1950's. Having just had a baby in East London, it had a particular interest for me, but it's a very popular book and was recently made into a TV show by the BBC (but the book's much better). It's really startling how much life and medicine has changed in such a short space of time."
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BELLA PILAR20th Century Travel: 100 Years of Globe-Trotting Ads. "There is always a Taschen book on my list of favorites. And this is my latest fave. Travel through the history of travel ads. I am beyond inspired by the gorgeous colorful artwork filling these pages - the images, design, colors, its the total package. These colorful ads are filled with storytelling imagery that remind me how big the world is outside my little art studio. They will make you look at a train, plane, and automobile in a whole new light." 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. "Always one of my faves. Beautiful artwork to gaze over. And a fact filled blurb of info on each page. What a treat to look at the history of fashion presented this way. Each fashion illustration tells its own little story. It's fun to see the progression of style and trends (fashion and art) over 100 years all wrapped up in one little book."
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GRAHAM ROUMIEUThe Bet by Arthur Bradford. "One of my favorites is just a short story from a McSweeny's but is probably the funniest thing I've ever read."
The endcaps for Bella Pilar's puzzles have gone up at Barnes and Noble retailers across the country. The puzzles — Shop Paris, Spring Hats, Shop New York and Dog Walk — feature the fabulous fashionistas that Bella has become know for. They are available in Barnes & Noble stores and on the Barnes & Noble website. Visit your local branch to catch a glimpse of Bella's artwork!
Bella Pilar illustrated three more books in the tween series, Petal Pushers. Her artwork appeared on the cover of the series' first book, Two Many Blooms, and can now be seen on Flower Feud, Best Buds and Coming Up Roses. Written by Catherine Daly and published by Scholastic, Petal Pushers follows four sisters – Delphinium, Rose, Aster and Poppy – on a string of adventures after their grandparents leave them and their scatterbrained parents in charge of their flower shop.
Bella Pilar illustrated an exclusive tote bag for the Promenade Temecula's campaign benefiting Rancho Damacitas, a community group home for children in Temecula, CA. The tote bags were available at the shopping center for a donation of $25 or more throughout the month of April, which was also National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
"This tote bag campaign is an initiative which will inspire shoppers to get involved, while providing an ongoing reminder of the good work that Rancho Damacitas is doing for the children in our community," said Kym Espinosa, Director of Marketing at Promenade Temecula. "As a place where the community gathers to shop, eat, and play, Promenade Temecula is committed to enriching the lives of our community members. That is what makes this campaign so important - we are providing the opportunity for our guests to lend their support to a truly worthy cause."
All proceeds went directly to the children's home, which has been serving victims of abuse and neglect for over 29 years. For more information visit www.4kidsfirst.org.
Bella Pilar released a line of 300-piece puzzles featuring some of her best-loved artwork through manufacturer Andrews and Blaine. The puzzles — Shop Paris, Spring Hats, Shop New York and Dog Walk — feature the fabulous fashionistas that Bella has become know for. They are available in Barnes & Noble stores and on the Barnes & Noble website. Each box features Bella's art and an artist's bio.
Bella Pilar will be participating in the Shadow Box Art Exhibition at the Tokyo International Forum. Japanese shadow box artists Hiroe Otani and Ms. Ohashi created the art using Bella's glittery cocktail girls - Mai Tai Girl, Margarita Girl, Pina Colada Girl, and Strawberry Daiquiri Girl.
The exhibit will include over 200 shadow box artists from all over Japan, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Ashinaga Charity, which helps children who lost parents in the Tohoku area Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami.
Bella Pilar's square format greeting cards for the Art Group have been released in the Netherlands. The series of 9 features everything from birthdays, baby showers, and everyday. The cards are beautifully embellished with glitter, giving the images a lovely texture and sparkle.
Bella Pilar illustrates the cover for Heather Blake's It Takes a Witch, published by Penguin Books. The first in the Wishcraft series, this book tells the tale of Darcy Merriweather, who has just discovered she hails from a long line of witches with the power to cast spells by making a wish.
Papyrus recently launched Bella Pilar's profile in the "Behind the Card" section of their website.
Known for her sophisticated and feminine illustrations, Bella’s beautiful, fashionable women are widely known for their exquisite, exotic and chic clothing, joie de vivre and refinement. “My mother started taking me to art classes on weekends when I was nine years old. I immediately caught interest and quickly discovered how happy it made me. I knew then that creating art would be a part of my life forever.” To read more, visit prgreetings.com.
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Papyrus has released their latest greeting card collection, Gallery Greeting by Bella Pilar. Featuring a series of fashionably dressed young ladies, the new cards are the most recent installment in Bella's increasingly popular line of Papyrus stationery. Check out Papyrus' updated masthead to see Bella's latest cards on display.
For Los Angeles illustrator Bella Pilar, work begins with a latte, a sketchbook, and a large stack of magazines. Her local cafe is her favorite spot for a dose of inspiration. Pen in hand, she flips through well-worn issues of Vogue to rev up her internal database of poses, prints, and silhouettes. Once an idea catches her fancy, she turns her thoughts to paper, sketching her signature, long-limbed ladies with practiced ease. Then it's off to her studio, which she keeps well stocked with the tools of her trade: 29 tubes of gouache paint, 18 watercolor brushes, and plenty of Arches hot press watercolor paper.
"Drawing and painting have been with me as long as I can remember," Bella says. "My mother started taking me to art classes on weekends when I was nine years old. I immediately caught interest and quickly discovered how happy it made me. I knew then that creating art would be a part of my life forever."
Educated in fashion design at F.I.T. and Massachusetts College of Art, Bella's first job out of school was as a window dresser for Macy's in Manhattan. "I started out painting the makeup (using grease paints) on the faces of the display mannequins," Bella recalls. "After that job, I moved on to painting real faces - working in New York and then L.A. as a freelance makeup artist. Now I paint faces on watercolor paper." She moved to Los Angeles with her documentary filmmaker husband, and continued her work as a freelance makeup artist. While most makeup artists used photographs as a reference, Bella used her own illustrations. One of these illustrations caught the attention of a magazine editor, which ultimately led to her first editorial illustration job.
Bella brings her style to life with a paintbrush and a bit of gouache. Then, with the guidance of an art director, her work appears on the pages of magazines like Marie Claire, Glamour, Uomo Vogue (Italy), Vogue (Mexico), Hamptons, and Modern Bride (China). Bella's client list is long and diverse, and, to date, her work has appeared in locales as varied as Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany, Latin America, and the UK. One glimpse at her body of work demonstrates the universal appeal of Bella's illustrations.
Many of Bella's campaigns have taken place in Italy, where her character Fleur acts as the mascot for the highly regarded retail chain La Gardenia. With over 160 stores, La Gardenia is Italy's largest makeup and perfume retailer. Bella's televised campaigns have aired throughout Italy, and her artwork has received national attention on multiple occasions.
The success of her line of greeting cards has made her Papyrus' all-time top selling artist and has brought her art into hundreds of thousands of American homes. Her limited edition greeting cards in particular have become collectors' items, and fans bring them in for Bella to sign at artist signing events in New York and California. The range of products that Bella has licensed her art on has expanded to include tote bags, gift boxes, tee shirts, children's toys, bookmarks, journals, and a line of fabrics. "I like to see my artwork on various products," Bella says. "I hope to see many more products with my artwork on them in the future."
Bella's whimsical feminine illustrations have appeared in advertising and marketing campaigns for companies like Bloomingdale's, Tiffany & Co., Timex, La Perla, and Lancome. "I love the variety of work I do, and I hope I'll continue to grow in all areas." Targeting fashion-forward women, Bella's "By Invitation Only" campaign for Tiffany & Co. and fall designer handbag promotion for Bloomingdales called upon Bella's talent for conveying glamour and sophistication. Her figures have been called "sassy and [...] coy" by some, "exquisite, exotic and chic" by others. Bella's distinct style has also helped her woo corporate clients like Target, Viactiv, and Hewlett-Packard. Whether it's releasing limited edition vintage tees (Target), announcing a yearlong partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation (Viactiv), or publicizing a web-based party invitation app (Hewlett-Packard), Bella's illustrations have played an integral role in making corporate projects memorable, accessible, and successful. "To be in this profession, you must be confident, with a unique style of your own that only you possess," Bella says. "I feel like I am always competing with myself, to improve each piece of artwork to be stronger than the last."
Bella also works regularly with clients that target a younger demographic. In 2011, she illustrated the Petal Pushers series (Scholastic) by Catherine Daly. The books, designed for girls eight years and up, focus on four young sisters and their family flower shop Her illustrations have also appeared on magnetic paper dolls (Mudpuppy), children's apparel (My Vintage Baby), and books geared toward teens (Chronicle Books). Bella's cover for Sarah O'Leary Burningham's How to Raise Your Parents: A Teen Girl's Survival Guide captures the book's tongue-in-cheek take on teen rebellion and family relationships. Bella's fresh-faced illustrations have also appeared in a number of teen magazines, which include YM, Sweet 16, Girls' Life, and Marie Claire. When asked about the source of her inspiration, Bella reveals that everything she does is dedicated to her two daughters. "This has a special place in my heart. Just like those art classes that my mom brought me to that molded me and my fascination with creative work, I hope to inspire my little girls."
Bella has developed a highly recognizable style that has been noticed by clients and the media. In 2010, her Papyrus greeting cards were sewn into an 'origami dress' for Los Angeles' Fashion's Night Out. The dress was modeled by Project Runway finalist Rami Kashou and was featured on a number of fashion blogs, creating a splash among Los Angeles trend spotters.
In January 2011, Vogue Mexico and Latinoamerica published a four-page feature on Bella, describing her figures as, "graceful, feminine women with endless legs [and] swan necks," "the ultimate personification of chic." The interview coincided with Bella's work for Vogue Shopping Experience, an all-day charity event that took place in Mexico City's fashion district. Bella's illustrations ran as advertorials in the Mexican editions of Vogue, Glamour and AD Magazine.
Then in February 2011, the Mexican women's magazine Femina interviewed Bella for a full-page article about her career as an illustrator. During the interview, Bella stressed that individual style is what makes artists stand out from other professionals. "It doesn't matter how many other illustrators there are out there looking for the same work. As long as you are true to your individual style, competition is never a thought. How can you compete if you're the only one that does what you do!"
Bella Pilar's love of fashion combined with a sweet whimsical aesthetic make her the go-to girl for the fashionista and girl-next-door alike. To see more of Bella's work, along with behind-the-scenes images of her illustration process, visit her blog at junipervalentine.blogspot.com.
Click here for downloadable items - desktop wallpapers and a high-res printable letter sized promo.
What's the best part of being an illustrator? I have a great excuse to hang out in coffee shops. I camp out with a latte at a window seat and sketch jobs on the days I am not in my studio painting.
Flight or invisibility? Invisibility.
If you could change one thing about your studio, what would it be? Can we make it bigger please.
What is your go-to karaoke song? Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Pat Benatar.
Your ideal vacation spot? Anywhere with new and interesting foods. It could be a fast paced urban jungle where I'm eating at the best restaurants or the most exotic street vendor foods standing on a busy corner. Or it can be a quiet desolate beach or countryside where I'm eating the local specialties in the peace and quiet. My dream vacation is a food tour of the world. We recently stayed on a farm in Sonoma where we milked the goats and collected eggs from the hen house. That next morning we were eating fried eggs and goat milk yogurt. Pretty ideal.
What do you do when you're not working? Hang out with my kids and husband.
What is one tip you want to share with other creative professionals? I'm practical - buy in bulk. No, seriously. You never want to reach for that watercolor paper or that lead for the pencil, and find that... uh oh, there's no more! And it's 2 am! So all you fellow late night workers, keep a good supply of supplies in your studio.
Why gouache? I find it soothing to paint with. I don't struggle or battle with it. It's quite comfortable and natural for me to express ideas in this medium. And I love the texture you can create since it can be transparent as well at opaque. Great for a good splatter.
Who are three artists you admire? My daughters and my husband. My husband's drive and love for his filmmaking is quite an inspiration. As for my two little girls - I scream with joy over every little art project they do. Each one is it's own little masterpiece. The thing is, is that they see greatness in every piece they create, without hesitation or doubt. They are confident in all of their creations. I admire that.
What are some sites you have bookmarked in your browser? www.epicurious.com Cant cook dinner without it. www.etsy.com I mean, really, so much talent out there. I love to shop here late night when the kids are down. www.illustrationmundo.com It's all there. www.pinterest.com Lots of eye candy.
Your favorite member of the '80's Brat Pack? Molly rules.
You're a born and bred New Yorker. When and why did you decide to move to Los Angeles? I've been in Los Angeles much longer than I had ever planned. We moved here simply for a change of pace, a new experience. But its hard to slow down the pace of this New Yorker, and I basically jet back to NY every free moment I can. I live in LA, but my heart belongs to NY. You can take the girl outta NY, but you cant take the New Yorker outta the girl, isn't that what they say?
In an ideal world, you would have a lifetime supply of...? Chocolate. Rest. Love.
Bella Pilar appears in the May 17, 2011 issue of Stationery Trends magazine, the official daily publication of the National Stationery Show. The magazine covers events, awards, and educational seminars for the duration of the national trade show. Bella is featured in the "Seen on the Floor" section of the magazine and is shown signing autographs at the Papyrus booth.
