Maribella Langley

Visual Illustrator

About Me

Hello! My name is Maribella and I'm an aspiring
animator and illustrator.

Like most artists, I have been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. However, I never thought that those childhood doodles would lead me to pursue a career in the arts. While I had practiced photography and illustration in my free time, most of my middle and high school years were spent studying and focusing on my academics. As deadlines grew closer, however, I realized that the only future I could truly imagine myself being happy with was one where I got to create. And so, this fall I will be moving to San Francisco to receive my undergraduate in animation.I am greatly involved in local art competitions and galleries. I do performances at my city's fall and spring Arts Festivals, and I have entered and won several local art and photography contests. I also helped college students paint murals at a nearby elementary school in 2020. Being involved in my community through art has allowed me to grow a connection to other youth and artists, teaching me about the great beauty and diversity in my hometown.My art is a reflection of my interests, feelings, and perceptions of the world around me. Characters I create are often inspired by my friends and acquaintances, and settings are often reminiscent of places I have travelled. I am also inspired by the styles I see in animated media. Shows like Gravity Falls and Carmen Sandiego may be meant for children, but the technical skill found in their backgrounds and character design have taught me so much. My greatest goal while creating art is to foster connection and understanding. I am quite awful with my words, and so for me, there is nothing more touching than when someone can look at my art and say "I, too, have felt like this."Outside of art, I enjoy dancing, biking, reading dystopian novels, rewatching Star Wars, and travelling with my family. I also have two dogs whom I love very much.

Awards and Recognitions

  • National PTA Art Contest Winner (2019-20): won two years in a row at both a regional and state level for digital photography and watercolor

  • Winner of the 34th Street Art Wall Contest (2022): a local mural contest created by the Center for European Studies at the University of Florida

  • Front Cover Winner of the Saving My Alachua Calendar Contest

  • Alumni of National Art Honor Society