Born in San Antonio, Texas, Thelma Muraida began her artistic journey in grade school with interests in drawing and piano. Her formative years were filled with visits to art museums and exposure to classical music. On entering college however, she put her music training aside and began to focus on the visual arts.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University, and continued her training with graduate work in printmaking and textiles at Eastern Michigan University and the Art Student’s League in New York. Her work in these areas has received several awards in fine art and print-based media.
With a background in painting, printmaking, and graphic design, she uses her choice of media to reflect her inner voice, telling a story with intense colors, indigenous designs and weaving patterns and textures. She incorporates semblances of ancient design into her work – reinterpreting them to create a new expression of tribute to the past.
Muraida has used her education and experience to good effect, working in the fields of graphic design and children’s book illustration.
PUBLISHED WORKS
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2022 Grandma, I don't want to go to sleep, illustrated children’s book written by Richard Ceasor, Ceasor Press Publishing
2018 Maya and Annie on Saturdays and Sundays, illustrated children’s book written by Gwendolyn Zepeda, Piñata Press
2015 The Place Where You Live, illustrated children’s book written by James Luna, Piñata Press
2014 Poetry on the Move, "In Defense of Tamales", illustrated poem by Carmen Tafolla, Tribute to Poetry Month, Via Metropolitan Transit bus posters
2014 Cecilia and Miguel Are Best Friends, illustrated children’s book written by Diane Gonzales Bertrand, Piñata Press -
Skipping Stone Multicultural Honor Award, Included in the 2014 Tejas Star Reading List - Best 20 Latino Children’s Books from 2014
2012 My Big Sister, illustrated children’s book written by Samuel Caraballo, Piñata Press - Included in the 2013 Tejas Star Reading List
2012 Rebozos, book design, written by Carmen Tafolla, Wings Press
2011 Clara and the Curandera, illustrated children’s book written by Monica Brown, Piñata Press - Included in the 2012 Tejas Star Reading List
2011 Curandera, illustrated book of poetry by Carmen Tafolla, First edition 1983, Santa Monica College Press. Second Edition, 2011, Wings Press
2010 Tamales, Comadres, and the Meaning of Civilization, designed and collaborated with authors Ellen Riojas Clark and Carmen Tafolla, First Edition, 2009,
Second Edition, Wings Press, 2010
2010 Semillitas, illustrated seven bilingual storybooks for young children, Intercultural Development Research Association
2009 The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans, short stories by Carmen Tafolla, Wings Press, cover design - Tomas Rivera Book Award
2003 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): "Young Children and Play" by Derry Koralek, illustrations
1999 Sombrilla Magazine, The University of Texas at San Antonio, CASE Award, design
1992 Sonnets to Human Beings, a book of poetry by Carmen Tafolla, U. of Osnabrück, Germany, Osnabrück Bilingual Editions, illustrations
1986 Saguaro, a journal of Chicano literature, Univ. of Arizona Press, cover illustration
1983 To Split A Human: Mitos, Machos y la Mujer Chicana, a nonfiction book by Carmen Tafolla, Mexican American Cultural Center, cover illustration