by Jennifer Velasquez

Today we chatted with team member Martha Colon founder of Meow Cleeva®. What started as a logo has now evolved into a comic character for a book series and animation shorts. Through her illustrations Martha captures the moments in the life of her fashion-forward character Meow Cleeva®, a vaudeville performer in the sleepless city working undercover as a fancy dog walker! Read more about her work below.

NYHC: Tell us about what you make.

Martha Colon: I make art, mainly illustrations and paintings. Then my art is made into prints for wall art, screen prints and textiles as well as other paper products.

NYHC: Where do you live?

MC: I’m originally from the Bronx but have been living In Weehawken, NJ for the last 18 years

NYHC: What is unique or different about your process and/or designs?

MC: My collections are theme inspired, based on Meow Cleeva® a fashion-forward Parisian style comic character with whimsical designs for interiors, custom gifts and apparel.

NYHC: Do you have any favorite pieces? What makes them special to you?

MC: I have many favorite pieces its hard to select one over the other but I have two in mind; my first illustration of Meow Cleeva® made in 2008 and my last made in 2020. They have a similar feel. These two have been on my mind lately, maybe because of halloween and what they represent; I’ve designed them both for the month of October and I’ve use one for my new t-shirt collection.

NYHC: What is your favorite tool or supply?

MC: I love the ink pens a lot its my favorite medium for my art work.

NYHC: Is there a new piece/opportunity/change that you're excited about?

MC: At the beginning of the year I created an illustration that was very different. I find it interesting because it was created on January 4th, I had fun creating it and it was the first work in almost a year because I’ve been so busy running the business. I like that it has movement, I saw the character actually walking when the work was done! It also struck me is that I made this image thinking of Halloween so I gave her masks and gloves since she’s meant to look and be cautious. Then Covid-19 came in February and we all needed to use masks, gloves and to be cautious… that’s why this piece has been on my mind lately.