Artist Feature - Martin Bustamante Oct 23 2024

This month we are excited to showcase Martin Bustamante as our Featured Artist. Having a love of art from a young age, Martin has grown into a talented artist in multiple mediums!

“Since I can remember, I have been passionate about drawing. Comic books and fantasy and science fiction movies filled my youth and childhood. Finding a VHS of Akira or Blade Runner at a video store, buying Moebius comics, or watching Robotech on TV after school was a party. This coexisted with art books at home, where I marveled at reproductions of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel murals, Velázquez, and Rembrandt. For me, those worlds were never separate; they always formed part of the same thing. I admire painters and illustrators equally.”

Wanting to not lose either passion, Martin has worked as a professional illustrator and painter for years. By doing both he is able to explore different styles, learn about an expansive amount of topics, and develop his personal vision.

As a painter, he has been featured in many exhibitions:

“I have been fortunate to participate in various contests and exhibitions and received top honors at the 93rd Annual National Salon of Santa Fe (2016) at the Rosa Galisteo de Rodríguez Museum. I also held an individual exhibit at a museum and was selected for the Figurativas 2023 competition exhibition at MEAM, Museu Europeu d'Art Modern, Barcelona.”

As an illustrator, he has worked with numerous clients from across the globe on a variety of projects from book titles to board games:

“I enjoy working in the fantasy style and have created artwork for books on dragons, fairies, cryptids, warriors, and more. I consider myself a versatile illustrator who adapts to the project's needs. I have worked in various styles and fields, including board games (e.g., Jumanji), historical and realistic illustrations, dinosaurs, folk legends, and textbook vignettes. Currently, I'm starting a book on H.P. Lovecraft's stories and recently created a cover for another on Cthulhu myths. I'm thrilled about this project!”

We are so happy to see Martin working on such a variety of projects and ones he is excited about. When asked about working with Advocate he says:

“Throughout my years at the agency, I have been lucky to connect with different agents who were crucial in connecting me with clients and assisting with practical matters. I have also found empathetic and warm individuals who make our weekly work contacts a pleasure.”

Never giving up on what you’re passionate about is a great thing that can be hard to do. Martin worked hard to never give up and is now a talented, multifaceted artist. We always enjoy working with him and can’t wait to continue watching him grow!

Interested in seeing more? Click HERE to see Martin's full portfolio!

Advocate Art illustration agency specializes in art licensing and children’s book illustrations. Based in London, Seville, New York, L.A., and Singapore, we represent leading illustrators who produce children's and decorative work to commission or license.