martina fugazzotto

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in Milton, Massachusetts, a charming New England wonderland full of changing fall leaves and historic Pilgrim heritage. I promptly escaped Milton the very second I graduated high school in 2000 and feverishly ran the entire way to Brooklyn, New York, where I've lived since. And, no, I'm never going back (sorry mom).

What's your "day job"?
By day, I'm the Senior Designer for gURL.com (and by night, I'm the masked hero The Martina-nator!...just kidding). I've been working as a designer in the gURL office since 2004. Have you ever thought, "I wonder who decided that the background for this gURL game should be green?" That's me!

I deal with color, typography, layout, web functionality, illustration and design for the site. It's a very fulfilling job because not only do I get to be creative, but I know that my efforts are going into a company that I care about.

Tell us a little about your hobbies, inspirations and favorite artists/comic creators/writers:
I graduated from Pratt Institute, the art school the comic and movie "Art School Confidential" are about (note to reader: read that comic!). I started out studying Fashion Design and left with a degree in Illustration, which means I'm good at dressing myself and I'm good at drawing pictures.

I am totally grief stricken that the Harry Potter series is over and am currently planning my Harry Potter tattoo: the Deathly Hallows symbol? A Gryffindor lion? I wish I had the guts to tattoo Harry's lightning bolt scar onto my forehead. I'd appreciate any other suggestions you have for me.

I also read lots of comics. I love long-form graphic novels, and crazy badass superhero comics. Some of my suggestions for comic book required reading are Alan Moore's "Watchmen," Will Eisner's "New York," and Phoebe Gloeckner's teen memoir shorts.

The rest of my time is spent grooming my 47 houseplants and my tiny city garden, and obsessively watching old episodes of ER (I miss you, Dr. Ross!).

What's your work process like? Any interesting trivia?
The first thing people ask about my comics is, "Is that true?" YES! My gURL comics all come from real life experiences. I feel that it's my duty to pass along the wisdom I gathered as a teenage girl, from losing my virginity to dealing with body issues. The dialogue is made up (who remembers exact conversations from 10 years ago?), but the situations and the characters are real.

So, yes, I was on a sex mission, and yes, my nipples are uneven. And, yes, that is a photo of my real boyfriend holding a cucumber in "I heart condoms," and yes, he was thoroughly embarrassed by that comic. Aren't you glad you know all that important personal info about me?

How can someone get in touch with you or see more of your work?
My artist portfolio site is MartinaMartina.com, where you can see more of my personal artwork, editorial illustrations and even some work from my fashion shows.

Any last words?
As I mentioned above, it's my duty to help you get through your years spent as an official teenager. What can I help with? No topic is too taboo for me to tackle! So, let me know what you want my next comic to be about and I'll see what I can do to help you through it.

Check out gURL comix by Martina Fugazzotto >>

Comments

[harleigh]

Martina totally rocks! I love her comix and the idea of getting Harry's scar on your forehed is an awesome idea. I am a big fan myself. Oh by the way, cute puppy Martina!

[Elliee =)]

OMG i absoutely love your comics! they're so real :]
please don't stop writing and drawing, i think you're incredible!

[Jessica Fecteau]

Hey Martina! Thank you so much for doing a story on going to the gyno. I'm going for the first time on saturday and i was nervous because i didn't know what to expect. It really helped to ease my nerves about seeing my gyno. THANKS again!!

Jessica

[Demi Lovato]

this is me,Demi lovato (|)
/ \ peace,
Do
Eat
More
Snails!

[alix]

More comics!!D::

[leyah]

ok well i really like this guy and i've been asking friends for help and all but im too shy to put it to work and its really good advice too.and i kinda think he likes me too but you can never be to sure with guys right.but he gave me his number and i call him but he never calls me only once to return my call.and when we're on her phone it's really akward(sorry if that's spelled wrong).and if o talk to my mom she'll just say too not pay so much attention to boys and foucus on school.I really need help on the whole situation.do you think you could do a comic to my delima?
please and thank you!

[arielle]

omg martina ive read all your comics in 1 day and i just became a member lol (yes im obssed) u make me feel more comfortable about talking about sex and stuff like that it kinda makes me think of u as a inspiration or better a 2nd mom lol but thank you so much i actually dnt really feel comfortable talking to my mom about sex and i dont want her 2 think that im doing it or my health teacher either but THANX A TON 4 giving me information about this kinda stuff even tho im waitin till im married! -ur new #1 fan arielle

[molly]

You're so funny! I heart you!

[martina_fugazzotto]

thanks for all the kind words and AMAZING Harry Potter tattoo ideas! I love you guys. I wish we could all have a big group hug and then eat some ice cream together.

[Naomi]

If you're afraid of having the bolt, maybe a gret shade would make it less noticeable than black??

[aiexoxoctic]

Well, i seriously think you may get a micropuff tatoo in the middle of your chest.

[sap]

I love your work!
i'd like to see more of your comics more often.you're the best!
I'm a Harry Potter fan too. ("i open at the close" tatto should be cool. )

[♥janina]

i love your comics! you so deserve to win an award. keep up the good work! :D

[rachel_nabors]

Congratulations on winning the Kim Yale! It was a lot of fun hanging out with you. Best of luck, girl!

[Katie]

Of course, I'm going to say that I love your comics. Very much. Your art is very classy to me and very original. I also find it wonderful that you want a Harry Potter tattoo! I myself am getting Dumbledore tattooed on my arse. Just a small one ;) Might I recommend the Deathly Hallows symbol? Very classy and all real fans will understand what it means. =)
Keep up the good work!

[Connor (HECK YES I am a girl!)]

CONGRATSSSSS! 8D

[our katy]

Congrats on the lulu award!!!!
They should use your comix in sex ed lessons in schools, it would def. make them more interesting.

[Adriana_Yugovich]

Congrats, Martina!!! gURL is now chock-full of award-winning artists!

[amy_marie]

yay martina!! congrats on winning the lulu award! one day i'll say i knew you when... :)

[Lauren]

hahaha Martina your comix are hilarious!!! i love them, and btw im from Massachusetts too thats so cool :P

[Dylan]

The idea of a Deathly Hallows tattoo is BRILLIANT. I live in a charming little town that I can't wait to escape, except it's in Connecticut. Anndd my best friend's oldest sister is named Martina, except her last name is one of those obnoxiously long Irish ones. Hooray! :D

[Hippiesque]

You're from Massachusetts? I called it! :P
You give Massachusetts vibes. :)

[Eliza]

YOU RULE! WOOHOO!

[Charlotte]

I LOVED the cheat duo!!! You should totally do a third one! I don't know if it's just me but I don't feel like it's over.

[Gerj91]

Hey Martina! I love your work. I'm a HP fan too, lol. Keep the GREAT work.

[Udeme]

I love your story in its funny because my birthday is august 21. But I have one question. How do know when your in love? Are you supposed to feel in denile?

[angeline]

omg, i love your comics, they are the best ones on the site : )!

[kayla :D]

wow, seiously ive been looking at some of your comics on your website and on here and i love them!

theyre seriuosly so cute and i can so relate to them. im really into art and i love finding new stuff all the time.

toodles!
kayla

[Ginaaaaaaaa]

love you martina!
keep the awesome comixs "cumin" with sexuality.
haha im so lame

[katie]

Martina! I found a link to your condom comic on your website, and loved it; totally hilarious. I just about died on page 7 when you said to wipe the "goo" on your boyfriend's butt -- haha I do that too! You rock, I hope to see some more.

[xxxxx]

You are hilarious and my favorite comic artist here. Stay awesome!

[Annie]

hey martina, i just wanted to congratulate you on the i heart sex series... it really has it all. it has literal "lol" material (i, for one, couldn't stop laughing), the art is lovely, and most importantly i think that by reading your comics a lot of girls will learn a lot about sex & learn to not feel bad about it. you've made the comics in such an approachable, funny way that it's impossible not to love them.

cheat was also great.

kudos to the artist that made my favorite comics ever =)

[Annie]

hey martina, i just wanted to congratulate you on the i heart sex series... it really has it all. it has literal "lol" material (i, for one, couldn't stop laughing), the art is lovely, and most importantly i think that by reading your comics a lot of girls will learn a lot about sex & learn to not feel bad about it. you've made the comics in such an approachable, funny way that it's impossible not to love them.

cheat was also great.

kudos to the artist that made my favorite comics ever =)

[Jess]

Martina! I love your comics.
I'd love to see more... more often :]

[Nadezhda]

Your comix series "I heart sex !" are amazing - educational, funny and interesting at the same time !! Even though I've read A LOT about sex, pregnancy, condoms and such stuff, I learned a few new things from
your comix. Plus ... I had fun reading them =)) And that Richard "dick" guy ... THAT cracked me up ... seriously =D Very creative.
Well ... keep up the good work !!
Love, Nad

[ashlei]

ur comix are awesome. i love your style of art

[Jessica]

Martina is amazing. I have always read her comix and laughed about it. she is really cool, and I love her!