“A Day in the Life” with artist & graphic designer Maya Corona

THE PRACTICE OF BEING A BOLD MAGIC COLOUR MAKER – Meet Maya Corona

It’s easy to internalize the decision to change your life. It’s a whole other level of courage to externalize that desire and begin the process of actually making change.

For Maya Corona, that is part of how she takes on life and why she got the name Bold Magic Colour Maker. It takes something to challenge how things ought to go and be open to trying on new ways and practices that stretch yourself and your abilities. But for Maya that is just table stakes in the game.

She persisted despite a minimal grasp of the English language and in a foreign country. She put in the work to not just make Canada her new home, but to expand her abilities as a communicator. Which in today’s world is no longer a ‘nice to have’.

She met her future husband in design school which led both of them on a journey into balancing the needs of the family (think twins) and entrepreneurship.

In the world of visual design and communication; there are so many ways in which you can express your ideas and opinions. A 20-year career as a graphic designer provided Maya with a rich palette of options. Along with her husband, they used the tools they acquired to not only help their clients communicate more deeply who they were and what they’re in the service of but to also push their own boundaries of what could be done as creative professionals. Over the last 13 years, their business has gone through 7 evolutions. And Maya believes this is a necessary part of the process of uncovering our passions in life.

While many of her clients were quite happy with the work she was doing, they were not as willing to truly create and be creative, which left her with the experience of not only burning out but not really enjoying what she was doing anymore. She was again faced with a choice. Keep doing what she’s doing or explore what’s next.

While her husband continues to help their clients push boundaries and embrace their future aspirations to create and be creative. For the last 2 years, Maya’s gone ‘all in’ in her profession as an artist. Initially, it began as a way for her to manage her well-being. The act of putting colour to paper freed her of the constant pressure of the constraints of having to get it “right” and “perfect” in her clients’ industry. This re-ignited her creativity in new unexpected ways and has now become a fundamental part of her wellness practice. She believes all of us are creative and that all of us can access new levels of passion and inspiration and on top of pushing her own boundaries and capabilities, she teaches others to do the same and uses all of her skills as a communicator to help her, help others.

-Written by David Schmeikal

Maya Corona - Maya at the Studio. This is an everyday, checking emails, updating websites, and zoom calls with potential clients editing videos from paintings created, mockups to showcase my work as well as social media scheduling and creation.
Maya Corona – Maya at the Studio. This is every day, checking emails, updating websites, and zoom calls with potential clients editing videos from paintings created, mockups to showcase my work as well as social media scheduling and creation.
Maya Corona - "THE CALF ANTELOPE" PAINTING This is an original painting I created this is the start of it, a 30x30 inches acrylic on canvas.
Maya Corona – “THE CALF ANTELOPE” PAINTING This is an original painting I created this is the start of it, a 30×30 inches acrylic on canvas.
Maya Corona - The #YouBelongInCHV Art Bench Program paired local artists with local non-profits in the diversity and inclusion space to create a piece of functional art to live in Crescent Heights Village giving pedestrians a place to rest and people-watch along Centre Street while creating awareness and support for the important work, the non-profits do every day. This project allowed me to share my art and talk about what SpaniArts (The nonprofit I choose) is all about: equality, inclusion and community. The name of this bench is "Let Equality Bloom,"
Maya Corona – The #YouBelongInCHV Art Bench Program paired local artists with local non-profits in the diversity and inclusion space to create a piece of functional art to live in Crescent Heights Village giving pedestrians a place to rest and people-watch along Centre Street while creating awareness and support for the important work, the non-profits do every day. This project allowed me to share my art and talk about what
SpaniArts (The nonprofit I choose) is all about: equality, inclusion and community. The name of this bench is “Let Equality Bloom,”
Maya Corona - THE BETTER TOGETHER MURAL: This project is a 20x8 ft sea container for The Crescent Heights Community. This mural design integrates the BIA’s brand, the Community Association’s Brand and they wanted to have a spaces for a bulletin board for community events, engagement, etc. This mural will represent the vibrancy of the inner-city as well as connection and belonging.
Maya Corona – THE BETTER TOGETHER MURAL:
This project is a 20×8 ft sea container for The Crescent Heights Community.
This mural design integrates the BIA’s brand, the Community Association’s Brand and they wanted to have a space for a bulletin board for community events, engagement, etc. This mural will represent the vibrancy of the inner-city as well as connection and belonging.
Maya Corona - STUDIES I love learning and exploring new techniques, when I am not doing commissions I explore new mediums, I take workshops that will help me to improve my skills.
Maya Corona – STUDIES – I love learning and exploring new techniques, when I am not doing commissions I explore new mediums, I take workshops that will help me to improve my skills.
Maya Corona - The Escaramuzas Arts Commons and SpanicArts Presents The Souls of the Land Venue +15 Galleries (between the Hub and admin offices of ATP and Theatre Calgary) Show Dates Sat May 1 - Sun September 5, 2021 Artwork: Maria and Ana - The Escaramuza "Charras Riding High Collection" 2021. Acrylic on Canvas 16" x 2" x 16" This exhibition, I wanted to show the exciting competitive equestrian sport performed by Mexican women dressed in stunning traditional costumes, a sport directly inspired by the Adelitas—the female soldiers who fought in the Mexican Revolution. The Escaramuza is an event within the larger rodeo-like sport known as charrería (now recognized as Mexico's national sport).
Maya Corona – The Escaramuzas
Arts Commons and SpanicArts Presents
The Souls of the Land
Venue
+15 Galleries (between the Hub and admin offices of ATP and Theatre Calgary)
Show Dates
Sat May 1 – Sun September 5, 2021
Artwork:
Maria and Ana – The Escaramuza “Charras Riding High
Collection” 2021.
Acrylic on Canvas 16″ x 2″ x 16″
In this exhibition, I wanted to show the exciting competitive equestrian sport performed by Mexican women dressed in stunning traditional costumes, a sport directly inspired by the Adelitas—the female soldiers who fought in the Mexican Revolution. The Escaramuza is an event within the larger rodeo-like sport known as charrería (now recognized as Mexico’s national sport).
Watercolour Workshops I have been teaching watercolour workshops since 2018 it’s been an amazing journey. I got to learn how to tech my process as well as see how my students get lit up when they finish a piece. With COVID all my classes were online and hopefully we can comeback to have some classes in person soon!
Watercolour Workshops – I have been teaching watercolour workshops since 2018 it’s been an amazing journey. I got to learn how to tech my process as well as see how my students get lit up when they finish a piece. With COVID all my classes were online and hopefully we can comeback to have some classes in person soon!

Which ‘hood are you in?

Hidden Valley

What do you do?

I paint with watercolours and acrylics, also I paint murals, I do graphic design and I love exploring new mediums

What are you currently working on?

Few commissions A 60ft Mural for Sawa Market & Cafe

Where can we find your work?

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube