maman coffee cups are a beloved brand staple and are cherished by customers new & old. walk a mile in manhattan and chances are you’ll find one of our cups in the wild. over the years, we’ve teamed up with a variety of different artists and brands to make custom cups (read our other blog posts about our collaborations with dmv artist stefanie stark, dc artist michael crossett, and connecticut artist kate foley!)

this holiday season, we set out to create an extra festive rendition of our classic toile print. enter hillary b. sorrentino, native east-coaster and talented freelance illustrator. we sat down with hillary and asked her a few questions about her work, where she finds inspiration, and her advice to fellow artists.

when did you know you wanted to be an artist?

i knew i wanted to be an artist as a child!  a turning point came when i was in middle school and i began taking lessons with a known local artist after school and in summer.  i was hooked!

did you study art in school or are you self taught?

i studied at the rhode island school of design, where we had a year of foundation drawing, 2d & 3d design.  from there i chose to focus on apparel design, which is what i have my degree in!  but illustration was always a close second, i could have gone either way.

what are 3 of your favorite spots or activities to do in nyc?

we recently moved from the nyc area to colorado!  so i have new favorite places, mostly outdoors!  boulder is great for restaurants & shopping,  and also estes park for hiking and snowshoeing.  i'm sincerely hoping a maman will open here one day, that would certainly become a regular spot!

do you have any rituals that you like to do before you start a new piece of art?

my usual rituals when beginning a new project usually involves coffee & lighting a candle to make my studio feel relaxing and homey.

what’s your favorite medium to work with?

i have two favorite mediums to work with, gouache (opaque watercolor) and black pigment ink pens.   i only used two black pens to make the artwork for the holiday maman cups and boxes!

where do you get your inspiration from for your work?

my favorite place to find inspiration is through vintage and my art library i have at home.  i'm constantly buying textile and art books for my studio library that i reference often. i also love to scour ebay or etsy for vintage fabrics, wrapping paper, and holiday cards to be inspired by and keep as my own little archive.

describe your artistic process: are you a planner or more go-with-the flow?

i am more of a go with the flow artist!  i take time to gather my references and do some quick pencil sketching.  but from there i usually go for it!

if you could only pick 3 kinds of art supplies to work with, what would you choose?

if i only had 3 art supplies to choose it would be my gouache, pens, and stonehenge printmaking paper.  and some brushes so thats 4!

what kind of color palette do you like to work with?

my color palette usually includes intense saturated color, balanced with dusty neutrals. 

what advice would you give to your younger self?

the advice i would give my younger self trust the journey, and follow your passion.  i worked in fashion full time for many years, but once i decided to go off on my own, a whole new path opened up to me.  i could not have predicted this is where i would be, as an illustrator.  i'm so grateful for every opportunity!

what advice would you give to aspiring artists?

my advice to aspiring artists is to keep learning, remain curious and also prepare for a long road to success. be open minded and have a full toolbox, with classic art supplies but also digital tools.  i use photoshop daily to touch up my art and create textile prints.  i think being versatile is a good thing!

visit a maman store near you to see hillary’s work & get your very own holiday cup & pastry box!

want to see more of hillary’s work? check out her website here & her instagram here.