Features from Wescover.com

Surreal Pastel Pop Art: Meet the Mashup Master Paul Fuentes

If you’ve ever seen a giraffe driving a miniature car or a snake with floral patterned skin, you’re tripping on Paul Fuentes’ work. The photographer and graphic designer combines objects, animals, and pop culture into pastel-toned imagery that’s wonderfully absurd and unexpectedly inspiring. Prepare yourself for a rush of euphoria because you’re about to meet Paul Fuentes (well, kinda)…

Paul Fuentes in front of many of his graphic designs on wescover.
Paul Fuentes

Paul wants to remind adults that the world is fascinating and fun. He stumbled into fame when his brightly pastel-colored, minimalistic imagery took off on Instagram. But it’s no surprise this creative professional was able to capture our attention on The Gram seeing as he’s behind creative ads for huge clients like Apple, Hallmark, and the Cosmopolitan. His personal and professional work certainly breaks up a boring feed!

We reached out to Paul, an awesome member of the Wescover community, to learn about his work, creative process, and inspirations.

"Giraffe in a mini-car" by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK as seen on Wescover/
“Giraffe in a mini-car” by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK.

What do you want people to do or feel when they encounter your creations?

I want to make people happy. With a sushi-cat or a floral hamburger, it’s my goal to get a smile on your face. I like to remind people how fascinating the world is.

"Floral Snake" by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK as seen on wescover.
“Floral Snake” by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK.

What is your favorite material to work with?

My artworks are photo manipulations of two or more objects into one new design. These designs are printed on home decor, tech, apparel, art prints and much more.

What is unique about your work?

I create fun mashups of daily objects, food and animals with a contemporary perspective and pastel-coloured backgrounds that give life to my minimal depictions of modern pop designs.

Pink Lion by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK as seen on Wescover.
“Pink Lion” by Paul Fuentes located at a private residence in London, UK.

What makes a space special?

I want my work to be available for everyone, its great to see pictures of people that have an art print in there living room or kids room.

How do your pieces come to life? Tell us one thing interesting about your creative process.

It’s always different for each image but I normally use two objects to create a new one, so I start with one and then try to find its other half. For me it’s like a marriage, both objects need to adapt in many ways like shape, size, and color. I grew up in Mexico where a lot of color is used. Towns with houses in all different colors and traditional colorful fabrics. My mashups have all pastel-colored backgrounds inspired by Mexico. Colors can do a lot to an image as it can make a design stand out! And in the end, colors make us happy!

"Party Zebra" by Paul Fuentes located at a private residence in London, United Kingdom as seen on Wescover.
“Party Zebra” by Paul Fuentes located at a private residence in London, UK.
"Palm Spring Tigers" by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK as seen on Wescover.
“Palm Spring Tigers” by Paul Fuentes located at a private residence in London, UK.
Mango Explosion by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK as seen on Wescover
“Mango Explosion” by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK.
Floral Popcicle by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK as seen on Wescover.
“Floral Popsicle” by Paul Fuentes located in London, UK.
 

What motivates and inspires you?

I get my inspiration from everything around me. Travel, fashion, music, but also when shopping in the supermarket. My designs consist of everyday objects and objects that we can find all around us. I just need to open all my senses and keep training my creativity.

See Paul’s work on Wescover>

 

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